KUALA LUMPUR: In a pulsating semi-final clash at the National Hockey Stad­ium, Pakistan staged a stunning comeback and overcame France 3-2 on penalties to book their place in the final of the FIH Nations Cup on Friday.

The victory not only marked Pakistan’s entry into their second consecutive Nations Cup final but also kept alive their hopes of qualifying for the prestigious FIH Men’s Pro League for the first time.

It was a match that saw the Green Shirts display a blend of youthful flair, tactical discipline and mental resilience. Down 2-0 midway through the third quarter, Pakistan clawed their way back into the contest through a sequence of brilliantly orchestrated goals, eventually forcing a shootout after a 3-3 deadlock in regulation time.

The shootout itself mirrored the rollercoaster nature of the match, with Pakistan converting three of their four attempts — courtesy of Rana Waheed Ashraf, Hannan Shahid, and Afraz Hakeem — while France faltered under pressure, missing crucial chances despite creating openings.

Earlier, France had looked firmly in control. After a goalless first quarter, where both sides exchanged penalty corners but failed to convert, Les Bleus took the lead in the second through Xavier Esmenjaud, who lunged forward to deftly deflect a low cross into the Pakistan goal.

Captain Victor Charlet then made it 2-0 early in the second half, flicking in a powerful shot from a penalty corner, seemingly putting the French on course for the final.

But Pakistan, led by the creative brilliance of Waheed and spurred by a sense of urgency, launched a remarkable fightback.

Afraz ignited the revival with a stinging slap shot after being teed up by Waheed’s incisive play. Moments later, Sufyan Khan dragged the ball high into the top left corner to level the scoreline with an unstoppable flick.

The momentum had shifted decisively, and within the next minute, Mohammad Hammadudin turned in a sublime deflection off Waheed’s reverse hit to give Pakistan a dramatic 3-2 lead.

Charlet struck again with just two minutes remaining, this time via a deflected penalty corner, setting up a nerve-wracking shootout. But it was Pakistan who held their composure when it mattered most.

“We were ready for this win for a long time,” Player of the Match Waheed said after the final whistle. “110 per cent effort from the boys’ side. Everything we have – we gave everything. [We are] thankful to Allah Almighty for helping us. We are really proud of the team and looking forward to the finals now.”

The win over France was especially significant, given Pakistan’s dramatic journey to the semi-finals. Despite a 4-3 defeat to New Zealand in their final group game — in which they had led 3-1 — Pakistan advanced ahead of hosts Malaysia on goal difference. Both teams had ended with four points, but Pakistan’s tally of nine goals edged Malaysia’s eight.

Pakistan’s Nations Cup campaign had begun with a thrilling 3-3 draw against Malaysia, followed by a convincing 5-2 victory over Japan. Although they faltered against New Zealand, they did enough across their group matches to qualify for the knockouts.

The team’s resurgence comes amid growing optimism in Pakistan’s hockey circles. With a young core and renewed focus on grassroots development, the Green Shirts are aiming to restore some of the lost glory associated with the sport that once made them global champions.

Friday’s win not only reaffirmed Pakistan’s promise but also put them within one win of rejoining the FIH Pro League — a competition featuring the world’s top national teams.

They will now face New Zealand — who edged Korea in a shootout in the other semi-final — in the final on Sunday.

Published in Dawn, June 21st, 2025