New Zealand Clinch FIH Hockey Nations Cup Title with Commanding Win Over Pakistan
New Zealand claimed the FIH Hockey Nations Cup title with a dominant 6-2 victory over Pakistan in the final, capping off an impressive campaign with a clinical performance in the decider.
The match, which began shortly after 6pm, quickly tilted in New Zealand’s favour. By the second quarter, they had built a commanding 5-0 lead, effectively taking control of the game and leaving Pakistan struggling to recover. Pakistan managed to score in the third quarter, injecting a flicker of hope, but the gap proved insurmountable. A final goal in the fourth quarter was immediately answered by New Zealand, sealing the match at 6-2.
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Pakistan’s road to the final was a story of resilience. The team edged past France in a dramatic semi-final, winning 3-2 in a penalty shootout after a tightly contested match. They had finished second in Pool B during the group stages, collecting four points from three matches — including a 3-2 win over Japan and a thrilling 3-3 draw against hosts Malaysia. Their only group-stage loss was a narrow 4-3 defeat to New Zealand, who once again proved too strong in the final.
New Zealand, for their part, advanced to the championship match after defeating Korea in a shootout in the other semi-final.
Despite the final loss, Pakistani supporters were in strong presence in the stands, applauding the team’s spirited journey to the final.
