Lausanne, Switzerland –
The primary day of a brand new stage of the Nations Cup didn’t disappoint because the rating video games added an additional ingredient of danger and reward for every workforce. Dramatic finishes, big celebrations and spectacular goalscoring despatched the event into tomorrow’s last video games on an thrilling excessive. Wales and Japan opened the day’s play within the Fifth-Eighth place play-offs and, not for the primary time within the competitors, Wales took a robust lead. In contrast to the earlier video games, nevertheless, they held onto their benefit to select up their first win of the event and progress to the Fifth/Sixth place play-off. Japan will head into the seventh/Eighth place play-off to face South Africa, either side hoping that first win will assist them keep away from a last-placed end. Hosts Malaysia bounced again from Wednesday’s disappointment to beat South Africa 4-2 in a convincing efficiency that places them right into a last sport towards Wales to battle for Fifth place.
Pakistan roared again towards France within the first semi-final, inflicting an actual upset in beating Les Bleus 3-2 on penalties. Led by the mercurial inventive powers of Waheeb Ashraf Rana, Pakistan shall be taking part in for a spot within the FIH Males’s Professional League towards New Zealand within the last. The Blacksticks received a penalty shootout of their very own, beating Korea regardless of a robust comeback due to the spectacular Korean penalty nook battery. The third/4th place play-off shall be a repeat of the unimaginable Day 1 sport that completed 6-5 between France and Korea.
Wales 6-4 Japan
Each side started the Fifth-Eighth place play-offs trying to find their first win. Wales’s Fred Newbold opened the scoring on his reverse within the ninth minute, well beating Kisho Kuroda at his close to put up. Japan responded 4 minutes into the second quarter with a penalty nook excellently guided between ‘keeper and left-post defender by a diving Ryoma Ooka. Lower than a minute later, nevertheless, and Wales had a deflection of their very own after Joylon Morgan bought a keep on with Gareth Furlong’s penetrating slap to re-establish the Welsh lead. Because the first-half neared its shut, Japan received one other penalty nook, one which was mis-trapped, handed again and throughout the circle earlier than Koji Yamasaki volleyed a forehand hit throughout aim to equalise going into half-time.
Two minutes into the second half and the objectives began to movement much more freely. Kazumasa Matsumoto’s rifled shot clattered towards the backboard to present Japan a lead and, only a few possessions later, Sam Welsh knocked in one other Welsh aim to make it 3-3. The aim, coming from Jack Pritchard’s explosive spinning help, lifted Wales to seek out the lead once more, this time Morgan slicing a reverse bunt over the ‘keeper. Koji Yamasaki was proven a yellow card with a minute left within the third quarter and Wales capitalised, Joylon Morgan getting a little bit of fortune for his hat-trick aim as his cross-goal slap pinballed its approach over the goalline. The ultimate quarter noticed a Gareth Furlong drag-flick and a Kosei Kawabe comfort cancel one another out to go away the rating 6-4 and ship Wales by way of to the Fifth-Sixth place play-off with their first win of the event.
Joylon Morgan’s hat-trick earned him Participant of the Match and he celebrated his aspect’s development: “(We’re) fairly joyful, it was a troublesome sport – we knew Japan have been a great workforce. Crucial factor was simply to get by way of, it’s our first win of the event so (we’re) very joyful.”
Malaysia 4-2 South Africa
After a gut-wrenching failure to qualify for Malaysia, the host nation got here into the sport with work to do and followers to recompense. They struck first with a minute left within the first quarter, as Syed Cholan slugged a fast drag-flick towards the backboard from Malaysia’s third penalty nook. Into the second quarter, once more with a minute till the top of the interval, South Africa rapidly turned over a Malaysian counter-attack and despatched the ball deep into the hosts’ half. A defensive fumble within the circle fell to Angelo Walstroom who confidently equalised.
After gifting an equalising aim to the South Africans, Malaysia took cost of the sport within the third quarter as Shafiq Hassan wrestled in an opportunity created by the scything carry of Chohan and good ability from Abu Kamal Azrai. Hassan created the following one himself, slicing infield and taking pictures earlier than Akhimullah Anuar bumbled the ball over the road to increase the hosts’ lead. South Africa threatened one other comeback within the last quarter as Carlon Mentoor’s agency slap discovered the underside nook however Fitri Saari’s ended the scrappy play within the circle by restoring Malaysia’s two-goal lead. South Africa must wait for his or her first win of the event however will hope to get it tomorrow towards Japan.
Participant of the Match went to Goalkeeper Hafizzudin Othman for his stable shot-stopping. After receiving the award, he mentioned: “At present (was a) robust match. We labored arduous to play for fifth and sixth place.”
France 3 (2) – 3 (3) Pakistan
France, after a robust exhibiting within the pool phases, confronted Pakistan within the first semi-final and probably the most thrilling sport of the day. The primary quarter remained goalless regardless of 5 penalty corners being exchanged, one for Pakistan, 4 for France. Within the second quarter, Xavier Esmenjaud threw himself ahead with an outstretched stick to place Les Bleus within the lead, touching in a ball throughout aim. Early within the second half, France doubled their lead, because the inevitable Victor Charlet transformed France’s fifth penalty nook to present France an actual increase in direction of the ultimate.
Pakistan roared again into the sport, nevertheless, overturning France the dominance and management as Waheed Ashraf Rana arrange Afraz’s slap shot earlier than each erupted into celebrations that marked the shift in momentum. Sufyan Khan joined the get together, letting fly an unsaveable drag-flick into the highest left nook and discovering parity with the French. A minute later, Muhammad Hammadudin fantastically deflected in Rana’s flat reverse hit to go 3-2 up. Victor Charlet, in fact, stepped up with two minutes to play for the French, as his deflected flick equalised with two minutes to go. Pakistan went on to win the penalty shootout utilizing simply 4 of their 5 makes an attempt as France didn’t convert possibilities even after they’d wrongfooted the ‘keeper. Pakistan head to their second Nations Cup last in as a few years trying to go one higher than they did final 12 months.
After Waheeb Ashraf Rana’s creativity and successful penalty named him Participant of the Match, he mentioned: “We have been prepared for this win for a very long time. 110 p.c effort from the boys’ aspect Every thing we’ve got – we gave all the pieces. (We’re) grateful to Allah almighty for serving to us. We’re actually happy with the workforce and looking out ahead to the finals now.”
New Zealand 2 (4) – 2 (2) Korea
The ultimate sport of the day started with two gorgeous objectives, each from New Zealand. On the finish of a comparatively subdued first quarter, Scott Boyde’s lasered slap was deflected in on the flip by Jonty Elmes, who redirected the ball into the underside proper nook while wrongfooting Kim Jaehan in aim. Dylan Thomas one-upped his teammate nevertheless, dancing in from the sideline to show a comparatively innocuous possession into one of many objectives of the event. After swiftly beating three Korean defenders, he despatched a flick up into the roof of the web to double the Blackstick lead.
From then, as Pakistan had within the sport earlier than, Korea chipped away at their opponents 2-0 lead. First to make a dent was drag-flicker Lim Dohyun who manufactured the angle wanted to beat Dominic Dixon previous his helpless proper foot from Korea’s second penalty nook. Yang Jihun piled in on the act, rocketing his third quarter drag-flick into the underside proper and pulling scores degree. The momentum flitted backwards and forwards between the 2 groups till the ultimate whistle took the edges to a different penalty shootout. Kim Jaehan made a great save to disclaim the primary Blackstick penalty however after Korea didn’t convert their first two, New Zealand at all times had the higher hand to win the shootout and make it to the ultimate. Korea, after a improbable event already, will face France within the third/4th place play-off.
After his wondergoal, Dylan Thomas was awarded Participant of the Match and confirmed his pleasure at making it by way of: “Completely stoked to get into the ultimate. It was a troublesome sport, it’s at all times a 50/50 when it goes right into a shootout however the boys did very well to get us over the road tonight.”
To see the present standings within the FIH Hockey Nations Cup, click on right here.
FIH Hockey Nations Cup – 20 June 2025
Nationwide Hockey Stadium, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Outcome: Match 1
Wales 6-4 Japan
Participant of the Match: Joylon Morgan (WAL)
Umpires: Wanri Venter (RSA), Nick Saunders (NZL), Ben Grant (NZL) (Video)
Outcome: Match 2
Malaysia 4-2 South Africa
Participant of the Match: Hafizzudin Othman (Mas)
Umpires: Wanri Venter (RSA), Ben Grant (NZL), Nick Saunders (NZL) (Video)
Outcome: Match 3
France 3 (2) – 3 (3) Pakistan
Participant of the Match: Waheed Ashraf Rana (PAK)
Umpires: Ben Grant (NZL), Timothy Sheahan (AUS), Ridge Bair (USA) (Video)
Outcome: Match 4
New Zealand 2 (4) – 2 (2) Korea
Participant of the Match: Dylan Thomas (NZL)
Starting: Pues (KEN, Liu Xiang (CHN, Ridge Bair (Vide) Bair (Vide)
Supply: FIH.hockey
