Defending champions New Zealand retained their FIH Nations Cup title in commanding fashion, handing Pakistan a resounding 6-2 defeat in the final at the National Hockey Stadium in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday.
New Zealand made a spirited start to the summit clash, finding the back of the net twice in the opening minutes, but both goals were disallowed. Undeterred, the Black Sticks continued to press and soon took control of the game, outpacing and outclassing the Pakistani defence.
Coslett Scott opened the scoring before Heha Sam doubled the lead, giving New Zealand a 2-0 advantage by the end of the first quarter. The second quarter saw Pakistan struggle to contain the Kiwi attack as Thomas Dylan, Findlay Sean, and Boyd Scott added to the tally, pushing the lead to an imposing 5-0 at halftime.
Pakistan finally got on the scoreboard in the third quarter through Hayat Zakaria, who managed to slot in a goal and reduce the deficit.
The green shirts showed brief signs of resurgence and earned five penalty corners during the penultimate quarter, but failed to capitalise on any of them, leaving the score unchanged at 5-1 heading into the final phase.
In the fourth quarter, Coslett Scott netted his second and New Zealand’s sixth, effectively sealing the outcome. Pakistan’s Sufyan Khan managed a consolation goal from a penalty corner, ending the match at 6-2 in favour of New Zealand.
Despite the loss, the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) hailed the team’s fighting spirit in a post on social media, calling it “a tough end to a spirited campaign.”
“Pakistan fought bravely in the final of the Nations Cup, but New Zealand came out on top with a 6-2 win,” the PHF stated on Facebook. “Despite the scoreline, Pakistan showed heart, hustle, and moments of brilliance throughout the match — including various attacking opportunities, a strong goal, and resilience under pressure. The Green Shirts also had to endure controversial decisions early on, yet they played with pride till the very end.”
“Heads held high — this is just the beginning of a comeback story. Well played, Team Pakistan!” the federation concluded, reflecting the optimism surrounding the team’s future following their spirited run in the tournament.
