Sultan of Johor Cup: Nabil Irfan double gives Malaysia 3-0 win over China ahead of Japan test
Malaysia's Young Tigers opened their Sultan of Johor Cup campaign with a 3-0 win over China in Johor Bahru, but coach Nor Saiful Zaini wants sharper finishing before Japan.
Malaysia opened their Sultan of Johor Cup campaign with a 3-0 win over China at the Johor Hockey Stadium in Taman Daya on Sunday. Defender Muhammad Nabil Irfan Mohd Yusof scored twice and midfielder Aferull Syah Ahmad Azuan Syahrill added a late third. The Young Tigers now face a tougher test against Japan on Tuesday.
How the match unfolded
Malaysia scored early. Nabil Irfan converted a penalty corner in the fifth minute, giving the hosts the lead within the first quarter. He doubled it in the 28th minute, just before half-time.
Malaysia had plenty of chances to put the game away before the break. Defender Eswaran George shot narrowly wide in the 21st minute. In the 41st minute, Muhammad Ashrafeel Iman Mohd Rizal was left in front of goal but could not reach a pass from Eswaran. China's best chance came when Ao You shot wide after a pass from Sun Jingran.
Aferull Syah settled the result with a field goal in the 57th minute. Malaysia finished with a clean sheet and three points, though local reports described a sloppy performance in front of goal.
Coach wants more bite in attack
Head coach Nor Saiful Zaini Nasiruddin was pleased with the result but not with his side's finishing. He said the missed chances were the main weakness his players needed to fix, and that the team could go far if they sharpened up in attack.
"Against China, I was happy that we got all three points," he told Bernama. He also warned that Japan would be dangerous, even though they have not brought their main Asia Cup squad, and asked his players to stick to the game plan.
Pakistan stay perfect
Earlier on Sunday, Pakistan beat Canada 6-2, their second win in two days after an 8-3 win over China on Saturday. Japan opened with an 8-1 win over Canada on the first day.
The standings after two match days:
- Pakistan: 6 points from 2 games (goal difference +9)
- Japan: 3 points from 1 game (+7)
- Malaysia: 3 points from 1 game (+3)
- China: 0 points from 2 games (-8)
- Canada: 0 points from 2 games (-11)
What comes next for Malaysia
Monday is a rest day. Malaysia then play three group games in four days, all at Taman Daya:
- Tuesday 20 October: Japan v Malaysia
- Wednesday 21 October: Pakistan v Malaysia
- Friday 23 October: Malaysia v Canada
The top two teams after the round-robin meet in the final on Saturday 24 October, and the third- and fourth-placed teams play for bronze the same day. Back-to-back games against Japan and Pakistan are likely to decide whether the hosts reach the final. Both teams have scored eight goals in a match already, so Malaysia will need to finish their chances better than they did against China.
Key takeaways
- Malaysia beat China 3-0 in their opening Sultan of Johor Cup match at Taman Daya on 18 October.
- Muhammad Nabil Irfan Mohd Yusof scored twice (5th and 28th minutes), and Aferull Syah Ahmad Azuan Syahrill added the third (57th).
- Coach Nor Saiful Zaini Nasiruddin wants his side to finish chances better.
- Pakistan lead the table with two wins; Malaysia play Japan on Tuesday and Pakistan on Wednesday.
FAQ
Who scored for Malaysia against China? Muhammad Nabil Irfan Mohd Yusof scored in the 5th minute (from a penalty corner) and the 28th minute. Aferull Syah Ahmad Azuan Syahrill scored a field goal in the 57th minute.
When is Malaysia's next Sultan of Johor Cup match? Malaysia play Japan on Tuesday 20 October 2026 at the Johor Hockey Stadium in Taman Daya, Johor Bahru, then face Pakistan on Wednesday 21 October.
When is the Sultan of Johor Cup 2026 final? The final between the top two teams in the round-robin is on Saturday 24 October, with the bronze-medal match the same day.
Sources: Bernama, FIH, Sultan of Johor Cup official website, The Sun, Luminews, Dawn