Thrilling Encounter Sees Pakistan and Korea End in a 2-2 Draw at Asian Champions Trophy
In a nail-biting match at the Moqi Hockey Training Base in Hulunbuir, China, Pakistan and Korea battled it out on Day Two of the Hero Asian Champions Trophy, ending in a thrilling 2-2 draw. The match saw intense action, with three goals scored in the dramatic final minute, leaving fans on the edge of their seats.
Pakistan’s Hannan Shahid made an incredible late push, scoring two back-to-back goals in the 60th minute to bring Pakistan level at 1-1 and then secure a 2-1 lead. However, defensive lapses allowed Korea to strike back almost immediately, leveling the game just seconds before the final whistle.
The match began with Pakistan dominating the first quarter, creating multiple opportunities to score. Young forward Hannan Shahid and veteran Ahmad Ajaz, playing his 100th international game, were pivotal in Pakistan’s attack, generating seven circle entries early in the game. Despite their efforts, the Korean defense held strong, with goalkeeper Jaehan Kim blocking a crucial attempt by Shahid just before the quarter ended.
While Pakistan controlled much of the ball in the opening quarter, Korea turned the tables in the second. In the 16th minute, Jiwang Hyun found the back of the net, assisted by Hyeseung Lee, giving Korea a 1-0 lead. Despite their best efforts, Pakistan couldn’t break through Korea’s defense and trailed for most of the match.
In the third quarter, Pakistan continued to push for an equalizer, creating multiple chances and earning two penalty corners, but Korea’s defense remained compact and resilient. Pakistan’s frustration grew as the chances slipped away, and despite 23 circle entries, they were unable to convert their opportunities into goals.
The final quarter saw a surge of activity from Pakistan, but they struggled to capitalize on their chances. However, in the 60th minute, Hannan Shahid delivered with two quick goals, giving Pakistan hope for a win. Unfortunately, a green card issued to Sufyan Khan in the same minute allowed Korea’s Sunghyun Kim to score the equalizer, resulting in a 2-2 draw.
Hannan Shahid, who was named Hero of the Match, expressed his disappointment after the game. “We are glad to have earned one point, but it’s frustrating not to have secured the win. We made too many errors and received too many cards, which hurt our chances. We’ll learn from this and come back stronger for our next match against Japan,” he said.
Pakistan will look to improve in their upcoming match against Japan as they continue their journey in the Asian Champions Trophy.