Pakistan Defeats South Africa in Shootout to Finish 11th

Former champion Pakistan rallied twice to draw 4-4 with South Africa before winning the penalty shootout 4-3 to finish 11th in the men’s FIH Hockey World Cup at Wagener Stadium in Amstelveen on Friday.

Pakistan previously finished 11th at the 1986 World Cup in London, where it defeated India in the classification match. That tournament featured 12 teams, compared with 16 in this year’s competition.

This marked the fourth time Pakistan had played in an 11th-place classification match. The previous three occasions came when the tournament featured 12 teams.

Returning to the World Cup after a 16-year absence, Pakistan concluded its campaign with a shootout victory that could provide encouragement as the team seeks to rebuild.

Pakistan trailed twice during regulation but scored a late equalizer to force the shootout. Ammad Butt converted the decisive attempt as the Green Shirts prevailed 4-3.

The result gave Pakistan an 11th-place finish, improving on its 12th-place performances at the 2010 and 2018 editions.

Pakistan’s only victory in regulation time came against Japan, which it defeated 4-3. The team drew 3-3 with Wales and lost 5-3 to India in the pool stage before suffering a 4-2 playoff defeat against New Zealand.

South Africa controlled the opening stages and led 1-0 at the end of the first quarter. Trevor de Lora converted a penalty corner in the eighth minute before captain Dayaan Cassiem scored a field goal in the 18th minute to extend the advantage to 2-0.

Pakistan responded through Afraz in the 21st minute and Muhammad Ammad from a penalty corner one minute later. Captain Waheed Ashraf Rana then converted another penalty corner in the 32nd minute to give Pakistan a 3-2 lead.

Mustapha Cassiem equalized for South Africa from a penalty corner in the 40th minute before scoring again in the 55th to restore his team’s lead at 4-3.

Mohammad Hummadudin scored an opportunistic field goal in the final minute to level the match at 4-4 and send it to the tournament’s first penalty shootout.

Pakistan held its composure in the shootout, securing a 4-3 victory and 11th place in the tournament.

Related posts:

India Crushes South Africa 6-1 in Women’s World Cup India Defeats New Zealand 2-0 to Win FIH Women’s Nations Cup, Secures Return to Pro League Spain Defeats India to Claim Ninth Place as South Africa, Ireland and Japan Close Strong at FIH Women’s Junior World Cup England Secures Ninth Place as Australia Records Its Lowest Finish at Junior Men’s Hockey World Cup