Pakistan secured a spot in the final of the FIH Hockey Men’s Nations Cup after edging past France 3–2 in a dramatic penalty shootout, following a 3–3 draw in regular time at Kuala Lumpur’s National Hockey Stadium on June 20.
The semi-final clash was a rollercoaster affair, with both sides exchanging goals and momentum throughout the match. France struck first, taking a 2–0 lead through goals by Xavier Esmenjaud in the 25th minute and Victor Charlet shortly after halftime.
However, Pakistan mounted a spirited comeback in the third quarter. Afraz kickstarted the revival with a clinical finish from Rana Waheed Ashraf’s cross, before Sufyan Khan equalised with a powerful drag flick off a penalty corner. Muhammad Hammadudin then put Pakistan ahead 3–2 with a close-range goal, completing a stunning turnaround.
France responded in the final minutes, as Charlet struck again to level the score with a converted penalty corner. Pakistan had a late chance to seal victory in the 59th minute, but Sufyan Khan’s penalty corner attempt was blocked, sending the match to a shootout.
In the tie-breaker, Pakistan held their nerve, with Afraz, Shahid Hannan, and Rana Waheed Ashraf all successfully converting their attempts. Goalkeeper Hammadudin Muhammad made a decisive save to seal a 3–2 win in the shootout.
The result propels Pakistan into the final of the 2024–25 FIH Nations Cup, where they will face the winner of the second semi-final between South Korea and New Zealand. The final is scheduled for June 21 in Kuala Lumpur, marking a significant milestone in Pakistan’s bid to reclaim their former glory on the international hockey stage.
