KUALA LUMPUR, April 4: Pakistan battled hard to win junior invitational hockey tournament title after a 4-2 penalty shootout victory over Malaysia on Sunday night. Malaysia were 2-1 up and everything pointed to a historic victory. But, Pakistan equalised through skipper Shakeel Abbasi to take the match into extra time, which failed to resolve the issue. Then came the shootout, and heartbreak, for Malaysia as Pakistan triumphed 4-2.

In the shootout, Engku Abdul Malek and Zulkifli Rejab failed to convert their attempts while Megat Azrafiq and S. Bubalan made their count.

Imran Khan was the hero for Pakistan when he flicked in winning goal in the shootout. Earlier, Imran Warsi, Tariq Aziz and Akhtar Ali had given the team the upper hand.

Malaysia, who fielded their strongest line-up, played a fast paced game as they tried to unsettle the Pakistanis. Their tactic, however, did not work as it was the Pakistanis who took control of the game, and the lead as well.

Pakistan opened account in the 17th minute. A fast break saw Pakistan gaining a penalty corner. Up stepped Imran Warsi.

Although his flick beat goalkeper Khairul Nizam, it hit Engku Abdul Malek’s chest. The umpire awarded a penalty stroke, which Imran Warsi coolly converted.

Malaysia, however, hit back with the equaliser four minutes later. A free hit by Zulkifli Rejab found Kelvinder Singh in the circle and the latter’s shot sailed past Pakistan goalkeeper Nasir Ahmad.

Just as the match was heading for the break, Pakistan’s Yasir Islam and Malaysia’s Tengku Ahmad Tajuddin were involved in a scuffle. Yasir was sent to the sin bin.

The second half saw Malaysia gaining the upper hand with Kelvinder spurning a golden chance to put Malaysia up in the 38th minute when he missed a sitter from close range.

Malaysia kept on attacking and their persistence paid off in the 47th minute when they gained a free hit. Engku Abdul Malek pushed the ball to Shahrun Nabil, who slotted the ball past Nasir to put Malaysia 2-1 ahead.

Pakistan earned two more penalty corners after this but both times they failed to find the target.

With the clock showing just 40 seconds to go before the final whistle, Pakistan equalised. Off a long corner, skipper Shakeel dived to slot home the cross with the entire Malaysian defence beaten.

The Malaysians never recovered from the late blow.

Pakistan: Nasir Ahmad, Mohammad Imran, Imran Warsi, Imran Khan, Asim Khan, Tariq Aziz, Shakeel Abbasi, Akhtar Ali, Asif Rana, Yasir Islam, Kashif Yaqoob.

Reserves: Mohammad Iqbal, Mohammad Arif, Mohammad Isthiaq, Sajjab Anwar, Mohammad Akhlaq.

Malaysia: Khairul Nizam Ibrahim, Mohamed Soffian Mohamed, Megat Azrafiq, Mohamed Sallehin Ghani, S. Selvaraju, Zulkifli Rejab, Engku Abdul Malek, Tengku Ahmad Tajuddin, Mohamed Shukri Mutalib, Kelvinder Singh, Nor Ikram Sulaiman.

Reserves: Ahmad Bazli Razali, S. Bubalan, Hafifi Hafiz, Mohamed Shahrun Nabil, Azli Misron.—PPI