KEY POINTS
- Scott Cosslett scored twice, with four other Kiwi players contributing to a relentless offensive display against Pakistan
- Pakistan reached the final after a thrilling 3-2 penalty shootout win over France
KUALA LUMPUR: New Zealand stormed to victory in the FIH Hockey Nations Cup final, defeating Pakistan 6-2 in a dominant performance at the National Hockey Stadium, Kuala Lumpur.
The Kiwis, defending their crown, wasted no time asserting control—netting two goals in the first quarter and three more in the second half to seal the win with flair and authority.
Scott Cosslett led the charge with a brilliant brace, while teammates Dylan Thomas, Sean Findlay, Scott Boyd, and Sam Lane each added their names to the scoresheet.
Pakistan, despite flashes of attacking promise, struggled to match the tempo. Sufyan Khan and Zikriya Hayat each found the net, but their goals were too little, too late to shift the momentum.
Pakistan’s road to the final had been nothing short of dramatic. After a 3-3 draw with France in the semi-finals, they held their nerve in a tense penalty shootout, edging out the French 3-2.
Goalkeeper Muneeb Ur-Rehman starred with three stunning saves, while Waheed Ashraf, Hannan Shahid, and Afraz converted their shots with clinical precision.
The Greenshirts had earlier punched their ticket to the semi-finals thanks to a superior goal difference over host nation Malaysia, despite both sides being level on points.
Malaysia’s narrow 2-1 win over Japan wasn’t enough to overtake Pakistan, who had scored nine goals in the group stage compared to Malaysia’s eight.
While silver is no small feat, the final underlined the gap Pakistan still needs to bridge on the world stage.
