Malaysia edge Pakistan 3-2 in thrilling U-18 Asia Hockey Cup clash

Malaysia defeated Pakistan 3-2 in a thrilling encounter of the Men’s Under-18 Asia Cup 2026 being played in Kakamigahara, Japan, 24NewsHD TV reported on Sunday.

The tournament, organized by the Asian Hockey Federation, is being held from May 29 to June 6.

 In a closely contested match, Malaysia secured a hard-fought 3-2 victory over Pakistan.

 Malaysia took control of the match early and built a commanding 3-0 lead by halftime, putting Pakistan under significant pressure.

The Pakistani side responded strongly after the break, producing an improved performance and scoring twice in the final two quarters to reduce the deficit.

However, Malaysia managed to preserve their narrow advantage and claim all three points.

For Pakistan, Muzammil opened the scoring in the 42nd minute, while Muhammad Farhan netted the second goal in the final minute of the match. 
Malaysia’s Dhiresh played a key role in his team’s success by scoring two consecutive goals, while Israf added another to complete the victory.

Despite the loss, Pakistan remain in contention in the tournament and will look to bounce back in their final group-stage match against Bangladesh on Wednesday.

Pakistan had opened their campaign with an impressive 3-0 victory over China, but Sunday's defeat leaves the team needing a strong performance in their last group fixture to strengthen their chances of progressing further in the competition.