Pakistan Enters Sultan of Johor Cup Final After Draw With Japan

Pakistan secured a spot in the Sultan of Johor Cup final following a 2-2 draw against Japan in Johor Bahru.

NationPulse Desk

Oct 23, 2026 · 7:07 PM 1 min read

Key takeaways

Pakistan qualified for the Sultan of Johor Cup final after a 2-2 draw with Japan.

Hamza Fayyaz scored in the 34th minute and Ghulam Mustafa scored in the 43rd minute for Pakistan.

Both teams finished with seven points and a +8 goal difference, but Pakistan advanced with 18 goals scored compared to Japan's 16.

Pakistan will face unbeaten Malaysia in the final on Saturday at Taman Daya Hockey Stadium.

Securing a spot in the Sultan of Johor Cup final, Pakistan's junior hockey squad fought to a 2-2 tie against Japan during their final round-robin fixture at Taman Daya Hockey Stadium in Johor Bahru.

Overcoming a deficit twice during the match, the Green Shirts earned the necessary point thanks to Hamza Fayyaz finding the net in the 34th minute and Ghulam Mustafa evening the score in the 43rd minute.

Ending the league phase with seven points and an identical goal difference of +8, Pakistan moved forward to the championship match based on total goals scored, registering 18 against the 16 netted by Japan.

Closing out the preliminary round with two victories, one tie, and one loss, Pakistan opened their tournament schedule by defeating China 8-3 and Canada 6-2 prior to a tight 3-2 setback against tournament hosts Malaysia.

Next up, Pakistan meets undefeated Malaysia in the championship match on Saturday at the same location, while the host nation previously locked down their spot for the title showdown.

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