In a thrilling display of skill and determination, Pakistan secured a remarkable 5-2 victory over Korea to clinch the Bronze Medal at the Hero Asian Champions Trophy, held at the Moqi Hockey Training Base within China Daur Ethnic Park on Tuesday. The match saw standout performances from Sufyan Khan, Hannan Shahid, and Rooman, who each made significant contributions to Pakistan’s triumph. Sufyan Khan netted goals in the 38th and 49th minutes, Hannan Shahid scored in the 39th and 54th minutes, while Rooman added to the tally in the 45th minute. For Korea, Jungjun Lee struck in the 16th minute and Jihun Yang scored in the 40th minute.

The game began with Korea taking an early lead when Jungjun Lee executed a spectacular maneuver past Pakistan’s Hannan Shahid to score, placing Pakistan on the back foot. This initial goal led to Pakistan conceding much of the ball possession and allowing Korea multiple entries into their circle during the second quarter. Although Pakistan managed to take two shots on goal in this period, they were unable to convert these opportunities.

The halftime break proved pivotal as Pakistan emerged with renewed vigor and determination. Sufyan Khan, who was later named Hero of the Match, equalized in the 38th minute with a brilliantly executed penalty corner. This goal breathed new life into Pakistan’s offense. Just a minute later, Hannan Shahid, demonstrating excellent form throughout the tournament, set up a stunning field goal. Despite a slight deflection off Salman Razzaq’s attempt, Hannan skillfully nudged the ball past Korean goalkeeper Jaehan Kim to give Pakistan the lead.

Korea fought back and equalized in the 40th minute through Jihun Yang’s penalty corner, leveling the match at 2-2. However, Pakistan’s spirit remained undeterred. Rooman scored a field goal in the 45th minute, putting Pakistan back in front. In the final quarter, Pakistan’s defense was solid, employing structured man-to-man marking to maintain their lead. Sufyan Khan then extended Pakistan’s advantage with another expertly taken penalty corner in the 49th minute, marking his second goal of the match and bringing his tournament tally to four.

Hannan Shahid sealed the victory with his second goal of the match in the 54th minute, thanks to an excellent assist from Rana Waheed Ashraf right in front of the goal. With Muneeb Ur-Rehman replacing Ishtiaq Abdullah Khan as goalkeeper in the last quarter, Pakistan’s defense held firm, preventing any further circle penetration from Korea and securing a well-earned victory.

Reflecting on the match, Hero of the Match Sufyan Khan expressed his satisfaction with the team’s performance. “We are very happy to finish the tournament on a positive note,” he said. “It would have been great if we had won yesterday’s match against China and played the final against India today, but we made several errors. Today, we didn’t start well but during the halftime break, our Head Coach Tahir Zaman inspired us with his unique style and boosted our confidence to make a strong comeback.”

This victory marks a significant achievement for Pakistan, showcasing their resilience and ability to perform under pressure on an international stage.