Pakistan’s Men’s U18 hockey team maintained their unbeaten streak in the Asia Cup 2025 with a thrilling 2-1 victory over China at the Dazhou National Hockey Training Centre. The win secured their place in the semi-finals, where they will face Malaysia on Friday. Pakistan’s early dominance paid off as Hassan Shahbaz opened the scoring in the 11th minute with a sharp field goal, setting the tone for a fiercely contested match.
Despite a tense second quarter with multiple penalty opportunities for both sides, Pakistan held their 1-0 lead until halftime. Ali Hanzala extended the advantage with another field goal late in the third quarter, but China responded immediately through Jiaxing Lin’s penalty corner conversion. The hosts pushed hard for an equalizer, but Pakistan’s defense, anchored by goalkeeper Ghulam Mustafa, stood firm to preserve the 2-1 scoreline.
The victory marks Pakistan’s fourth consecutive win in the tournament, topping Group A with a perfect 12 points and a staggering +21 goal difference (25 goals scored, 4 conceded). Their campaign began with crushing wins over Hong Kong (8-0) and Sri Lanka (9-0), followed by a 6-3 triumph against Bangladesh. The team’s attacking flair and defensive resilience have made them strong contenders for the title.
Pakistan now prepares for a crucial semi-final clash against Malaysia, with a spot in the final at stake. If they maintain their current form, the Green Shirts could be on track to reclaim Asian hockey glory. Will the young squad continue their dream run? Hockey fans won’t want to miss this!