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Pakistan’s chances of reaching the knockout stage of the FIH Hockey World Cup suffered a major setback after it was held to a 3-3 draw by Wales in a closely contested pool match.
Returning to the World Cup after a 12-year absence, Pakistan has just one point from two matches following a defeat and a draw. With only its final pool match against India remaining, Pakistan faces a difficult path to the next round.
Wales finds itself in a similar position. After losing to India in its opening match, Wales earned its first point with the draw against Pakistan and will face England in its final group game.
The match was crucial for Pakistan as it sought to remain in contention for a place in the quarterfinals. Pakistan made an energetic start, with Abdul Rehman opening the scoring with a field goal in the third minute.
Pakistan dominated much of the first quarter and appeared intent on taking control early. However, after missing two clear scoring opportunities, it allowed Wales to work its way back into the contest.
Having taken the lead, Pakistan continued to press and earned its first penalty corner in the 19th minute. The Pakistani attack repeatedly tested the Welsh defense but failed to capitalize on several opportunities, including a rebound from the penalty corner. At least two other attempts went wide of the target.
Pakistan’s momentum was disrupted when Sufiyan Khan received a yellow card in the 23rd minute. The team quickly recovered and continued to apply pressure. Wales subsequently requested a video referral against the award of another Pakistan penalty corner, and the decision was overturned in favor of a bully.
Wales earned its first penalty corner in the 25th minute, and Gareth Furlong converted with a rising flick to level the score at 1-1. Wales then turned the game around when Rhys Bradshaw scored a field goal to give his team a 2-1 lead at halftime.
Tensions briefly flared in the 32nd minute after Fred Newbold was blocked inside Pakistan’s striking circle, leading to an exchange between players from both teams. Following a video referral, Pakistan’s Zikriya Hayat and Wales’ Francis Benjamin were shown green cards. Pakistan captain Abu Mahmood had received a green card two minutes earlier, while Wales’ James Tyson was later shown a yellow card.
Pakistan earned another penalty corner in the 42nd minute after Zikriya Hayat was brought down while dribbling toward the striking circle. Wales challenged the decision through a video referral, but the appeal was unsuccessful. Abu Mahmood’s powerful flick was deflected away.
A minute later, Pakistan came close again as the ball flashed across the face of the Welsh goal without finding a finishing touch.
Wales maintained its 2-1 advantage at the end of the third quarter, with goalkeeper Toby Reynolds making several important saves to keep Pakistan at bay.
Pakistan finally found the equalizer from a penalty corner in the 49th minute when Sufiyan Khan converted to make it 2-2. The goal revitalized Pakistan, which increased the intensity of its attack and kept Wales under sustained pressure for much of the fourth quarter.
That pressure paid off when Rana Waheed Ashraf put Pakistan ahead 3-2. Reynolds initially stopped the effort, but the ball gradually crossed the goal line to restore Pakistan’s advantage.
Wales responded quickly and earned a penalty corner in the 53rd minute. After the ball was deflected away and the umpire awarded another corner, Wales sought a video referral for a penalty stroke. The referral was upheld.
Furlong converted the resulting penalty stroke with a low push to the goalkeeper’s right, scoring his second goal of the match and bringing Wales level at 3-3.
Buoyed by the equalizer, Wales pushed forward in search of a winner and earned another penalty corner. Pakistan challenged the decision through a video referral, but its appeal was rejected. Abu Mahmood blocked the resulting flick with his knee, leading to another Welsh penalty corner, which was deflected away.
Wales continued to press in the closing minutes, earning further penalty corners in the 57th minute, but Pakistan survived the late pressure.
The match ended 3-3, leaving both teams disappointed after opportunities to secure a crucial victory. Pakistan and Wales each have one point from two pool matches, with their hopes of advancing now dependent on their final group games.
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