Hockey: Pakistan fall short in their quest for promotion to the FIH Pro League; thrashed by New Zealand in Nations Cup final
Pakistan men's hockey team's dream of playing in the FIH Pro League once again fell short. After losing the semifinals in the last edition, they came up short in the final this year. Five first-half goals proved decisive for New Zealand to overwhelm Pakistan in the final in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday. The dominant Black Sticks added one more goal in the second half to secure a 6-2 victory, and with that, their second consecutive title and the opportunity to step up to the top-tier, Pro League.
The tone was set early, with New Zealand twice finding the back of the net in the opening minutes, only for both goals to be disallowed. Still, they kept up the pressure and eventually broke through when Scott Cosslett converted a penalty corner to open the scoring. Just as Pakistan began to finally find their rhythm and enjoy some possession, New Zealand struck again, Jonty Elmes setting up Sam Hiha to double their lead.
Early in the second quarter, a long pass into the circle found Dylan Thomas, who reacted quickest to a rebound off the keeper to make it 3-0. Sean Findlay then blasted in a fourth after receiving an aerial pass just inside the circle and somehow slotting it in from the sharpest of angles.
Just under 10 minutes later, the Black Sticks were at it again when a lifted ball came off the Pakistani goalkeeper, and Scott Boyde was on hand to swat it home, sending the New Zealanders into the half-time break with a commanding 5-0 lead.
Left with a mountain to climb in the second half, Pakistan finally got off the mark in the 33rd minute when Moin Shakeel found the back of the net from close range. Suddenly, the men in green sparked to life, creating chances and looking threatening. But the New Zealand defence stood firm.
The Kiwis added one more goal from a penalty corner in the final three minutes of the match, Cosslett's second successful drag flick, to rub salt in Pakistan's wounds. Sufyan Khan then found one last consolation for Pakistan off a penalty corner of their own to make the 6-2 scoreline slightly more respectable.
New Zealand's Nic Woods was named player of the match and said: 'It's nice to have one of those games where things just come together and it all clicked today. So I'm very happy that it happened in the final and very happy for our success, and looking forward to what we can accomplish together.'
In the playoff for the bronze medal, it was France who prevailed against Korea in a shootout while Wales beat hosts Malaysia to secure fifth place, and Japan came out on top in the playoff for seventh against former Nations Cup champions South Africa.
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