In an important fixture of the 2024 Asian Champions Trophy, Pakistan achieved their first win with a 2-1 triumph over Japan, moving up to the second position on the points table.
This victory was a notable shift from Pakistan’s previous matches, where they had started defensively. In their third game, Pakistan adopted a more aggressive strategy right from the beginning.
The match saw Ahmad Nadeem make an early impact, scoring the opening goal in the 9th minute of the game. Nadeem’s goal was made possible by an assist from Shahid Hannan, marking a decisive start for Pakistan.
The team maintained their momentum and added another goal in the second quarter, giving them a 2-0 lead over Japan.
Japan managed to pull one goal back through their third penalty corner, but it was not sufficient to overturn the deficit. Pakistan’s solid defensive play ensured they secured the win.
In their previous match, Pakistan had played to a 2-2 draw against South Korea. Despite taking a one-goal lead, they were unable to maintain it through the final quarter.
South Korea’s Hyun Jigwang scored in the late minutes of the second quarter, and despite Pakistan’s efforts to secure a win, the match ended in a draw, putting them at risk of their first loss in the ongoing tournament.
