Pakistan edge Japan 4-3 in thrilling comeback victory
By Nawaz Gohar ; In a thrilling display of resilience and tactical skill, Pakistan secured a hard-fought 4-3 victory over Japan at the ongoing FIH Hockey World Cup 2026, marking their first World Cup win against their Asian rivals in 16 years.
Japan asserted dominance early, launching an aggressive offense that put Pakistan on the back foot. Hyota Yamada opened the scoring in the 7th minute with a swift field goal, followed by Kaito Tanaka doubling Japan’s lead to 2-0 in the 15th minute.
Refusing to back down, Pakistan staged a remarkable turnaround in the second quarter. Rana Waheed Ashraf ignited the resurgence, scoring Pakistan’s first goal in the 22nd minute. Ashraf struck again in the 32nd minute to equalize at 2-2. Building on this momentum, Muhammad Hammadudin found the back of the net just a minute later, giving Pakistan a 3-2 lead.
Japan leveled the match at 3-3 in the 36th minute through a goal by Koji Yamasaki. However, Pakistan responded swiftly. In the 41st minute, Hannan Shahid delivered the decisive strike, placing Pakistan ahead 4-3.
Despite relentless pressure from Japan in the closing minutes, Pakistan’s defensive line held firm under immense stress to seal the landmark victory.
Match Summary & Goal Scorers
Final Score: Pakistan 4 – 3 Japan
Pakistan: Rana Waheed Ashraf (22′, 32′), Muhammad Hammadudin (33′), Hannan Shahid (41′)
Japan: Hyota Yamada (7′), Kaito Tanaka (15′), Koji Yamasaki (36′)
