Pakistan Storm into U18 Asia Cup Semi-Finals After Edging China 2-1

Dazhou, China — Pakistan’s Men’s U18 hockey team sealed their place in the semi-finals of the 2025 Asia Cup after defeating hosts China 2-1 in a thrilling final group match at the Dazhou National Hockey Training Centre on Wednesday.

Maintaining their perfect record, the Green Shirts topped Group A with 12 points from four matches, finishing the group stage unbeaten with a commanding goal difference of +21.

The encounter began with early intensity as Hassan Shahbaz put Pakistan ahead in the 11th minute, netting a fine field goal in a match filled with pace and pressure. Both sides created chances in the second quarter, earning two penalty corners each, but failed to convert, leaving the score 1-0 at halftime.

Pakistan extended their lead in the third quarter through a sharp finish by Ali Hanzala, but China responded almost immediately as Jiaxing Lin converted a penalty corner to keep the hosts in contention.

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China pressed hard in the final quarter, dominating possession in search of an equaliser, but goalkeeper Ghulam Mustafa delivered a stellar performance, making several crucial saves to deny the home side and secure Pakistan’s victory.

Unstoppable in Group Stage

Pakistan’s journey to the semi-finals has been nothing short of dominant. The team opened their campaign with an 8-0 rout of Hong Kong, followed by a 9-0 win over Sri Lanka, and a 6-3 triumph over Bangladesh, before edging past China.

Over four matches, Pakistan have scored 25 goals and conceded just four, showcasing both attacking flair and defensive discipline.

Semi-Final Showdown

Pakistan will now face Malaysia in the semi-final on Friday at the same venue. The winner will advance to the final of the prestigious continental tournament.

Pakistan Squad:
Mohammad Usman, Atif Ali, Asam Junaid, Mohammad Abdullah Farooq, Abdullah Awan, Zubair Lateef, Mohammad Yaseen, Mohammad Ali Taj, Ghulam Mustafa, Ali Hamza, Ali Hanzala, Aamir Sohail, Adeel Afzal, Mohammad Zaman, Mohammad Hussain, Mohammad Shaheer, Hasan Shahbaz, Yaseen Jamshaid

Team Management:
Shafqat Malik (Manager), Mukhtar Ahmed, Touseeq Ahmed, Masood-ur-Rahman (Coaches)