Speedy Tigers Fight Back to Beat Pakistan 5-4 and Close In on Asian Games Semi-Finals
Malaysia scored twice in the final quarter to beat Pakistan 5-4 in Gifu, keeping their perfect Group B record and moving to the brink of the semis.
Malaysia's Speedy Tigers produced a stirring late comeback to beat Pakistan 5-4 in a thrilling Group B men's hockey match at the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games on Saturday, 26 September.
Trailing 4-3 going into the final stretch at Green Stadium in Gifu Prefecture, Malaysia struck twice in the space of two minutes to snatch victory and keep their perfect record in the group intact. The win leaves Brendon Carolan's side on the brink of a place in the semi-finals.
A see-saw battle
Pakistan struck first through Sufyan Khan in the third minute, but Malaysia responded almost immediately when Shello Silverius equalised two minutes later.
Faizal Saari then gave the Speedy Tigers the lead from a set piece in the 23rd minute, and Malaysia went into half-time 2-1 up.
The third quarter belonged to Sufyan Khan. The Pakistan star converted from set pieces in the 39th and 43rd minutes to turn the match around, completing a hat-trick that put Pakistan 3-2 ahead. Faizal hit back in the 45th minute to level at 3-3, but Sufyan struck again in the 46th minute for his fourth goal of the match.
The late turnaround
With the clock running down, Malaysia refused to fold. Shello grabbed his second goal of the match in the 56th minute to make it 4-4, and just a minute later Azrai Aizad Abu Kamal found the net to put Malaysia 5-4 up. The Speedy Tigers then held on to seal a famous win.
Goal sequence:
- 3' Sufyan Khan (Pakistan) 0-1
- 5' Shello Silverius (Malaysia) 1-1
- 23' Faizal Saari (Malaysia) 2-1
- 39' Sufyan Khan (Pakistan) 2-2
- 43' Sufyan Khan (Pakistan) 2-3
- 45' Faizal Saari (Malaysia) 3-3
- 46' Sufyan Khan (Pakistan) 3-4
- 56' Shello Silverius (Malaysia) 4-4
- 57' Azrai Aizad Abu Kamal (Malaysia) 5-4
Semi-final within reach
Kosmo reported that the victory has effectively booked Malaysia's semi-final place, while the New Straits Times described the Speedy Tigers as "virtually" through. Malaysia wrap up their group campaign against China on Monday.
The result follows a series of convincing wins earlier in the group stage, including a 10-0 rout of Thailand. Pakistan, for their part, had arrived in form after beating China 3-0 earlier in the tournament.
Before the Games, the Speedy Tigers had set themselves the target of reaching the final. Beating a traditional hockey powerhouse such as Pakistan, and doing it by coming from behind, will give the squad plenty of belief heading into the knockout rounds.
The one concern for Carolan will be the number of goals conceded from set pieces, with Sufyan Khan punishing Malaysia repeatedly in the second half. Tightening up defensively will be key against stronger opposition in the semi-finals.
Key takeaways
- Malaysia beat Pakistan 5-4 in Group B on 26 September in Gifu.
- Shello Silverius and Faizal Saari scored twice each; Azrai Aizad hit the winner in the 57th minute.
- Pakistan's Sufyan Khan scored all four of his side's goals.
- Malaysia are on the brink of the semi-finals, with China to come on Monday.
FAQ
Who scored the winning goal for Malaysia against Pakistan? Azrai Aizad Abu Kamal scored in the 57th minute to make it 5-4, a minute after Shello Silverius had equalised.
Have the Speedy Tigers qualified for the semi-finals? Kosmo reported that the win secured a semi-final spot, while the New Straits Times described Malaysia as virtually through. Their final group match is against China on Monday.
What is the Speedy Tigers' target at the Asian Games? Before the Games, the team set a target of reaching the final.
Sources: Kosmo, New Straits Times, Free Malaysia Today, Bernama, The Nation