New Zealand clinched the FIH Nations Cup title after a commanding 6-2 victory over Pakistan in the final held at the National Hockey Stadium in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday. This defeat unfortunately shattered Pakistan’s hopes of qualifying for the prestigious FIH Hockey Pro League.
The match started with high intensity, and New Zealand quickly asserted their control, scoring two goals in the first quarter and adding three more in the second. This left Pakistan trailing significantly at 5-0 by halftime. New Zealand’s sixth and final goal came late in the fourth quarter, capping off a clinical performance.
Despite a spirited fightback in the second half, Pakistan only managed to score two goals: Zakaria Hayat in the third quarter and Sufyan Khan in the fourth. Their efforts, however, were not enough to turn the tide of the match.
The Nations Cup Player of the Year award was presented to New Zealand’s Nick Woods. The tournament’s Young Player of the Year award was conferred upon Pakistan’s Sufyan Khan, and the Top Goal Scorer award went to France’s Victor Charlotte.
Pakistan’s Journey to the Final
Pakistan had reached the final after a thrilling semi-final win over France. The Green Shirts edged past their European opponents 3-2 on penalties after a 3-3 deadlock in regulation time. In that match, goalkeeper Muneeb Ur Rehman emerged as the hero, saving three penalty attempts, while Rana Waheed Ashraf, Hannan Shahid, and Afraz successfully converted their chances to secure the victory. During regular play, Afraz, Sufyan Khan, and Muhammad Hammadudin were the goal-scorers for Pakistan.
New Zealand, who had previously defeated Pakistan in the group stage, advanced to the final after a strong win over South Korea in the other semi-final.
While Pakistan’s dream of returning to the FIH Hockey Pro League remains unfulfilled, the team’s performance throughout the tournament—particularly in the semi-final—demonstrated flashes of potential and resilience.
