FULL-TIME: Pakistan 1-1 Malaysia
Fourth Quarter
60' Another routine save Kumar Subramiam keep out a Pakistani reverse hit from the left wing. Pakistan's Umar Bhutta goes for a referral for penalty corner in the final seconds of the match. The Malaysian players protest that the hooter was blown but the referee asks them to calm down. Replays show that there was no Malaysian foot in it.
58' The crowd at the Kalinga Stadium has suddenly found its voice and cheer every attack.
55' GOAL MALAYSIA! Faizal Saari opens the scoring for Malaysia in this tournament and what a way to do it. The Malaysian No. 10 places his dragflick into the top left corner of the goal and Imran Butt has no chance.
54' Malaysia wins a penalty corner, but Rashid Mehmood asks for a referral and wins a free hit for Pakistan. Very clever decision from the veteran defender.
51' GOAL PAKISTAN! Muhammed Atiq receives a pass from captain Muhammad Rizwan Sr. from outside the penalty area and creates space on the right, does a 360 degree spin and shoots it past Kumar Subramiam at the far post.
49' Aleem Bilal's pass from outside the 'D' is flashed just wide off the goalpost. Kumar Subramiam had to be alert there.
47' Malaysia gets a good chance after making inroads from left to right, but Imran Butt, for the umpteenth time, is positioned at the right place to make a save.
Third Quarter
45' Muhammad Rizwan Sr. shoots from the edge of the circle which flies narrowly over the crossbar.
44' Mubashar Ali helps to clear the lines, but Pakistan does not build from it. That has been the issue with this match as both teams have been patchy in their build up and creativity in the final fourth.
40' Malaysia wins a fourth penalty corner of the game, the eighth of the match overall. Malaysia goes a variation with a backpass to Faizal Saari, who moves from the centre to the left, but his release is blocked inches away from the point of release by the Pakistan's runner.
37' Pakistan gets the ball into the centre from a right-wing cross from Abu Bakar but is unable to threaten Kumar Subramiam. Rashid Mehmood gets a green card for a tackle from behind on a Malaysian player.
34' Malaysia shoud have done better there. A lob over the Pakistani defence reaches Faizal Sarri who had to hold the ball for another of teammates to arrive inside the penalty area, but Tengku Tajudding takes too much time to reach the centre and the chance is wasted.
31' Ajaz Ahmad reaches the baseline with a solo run down the left flank, but is unable to make the most out of it.
HALF-TIME: Paksitan 0-0 Malaysia
Second Quarter
30' Pakistan tries to mount an attack through midfield, but the hooter goes off bringing an end to an entertaining first half.
28' Umar Bhutta cuts inside from the right and wins a penalty corner for Pakistan. The umpire awards another corner after Mubashar Ali's dragflick hits the runner's foot. The second attempt is directed towards Muhammad Rizwan Senior, lurking at the near post, but he is unable to direct it into the goal.
25' Both teams possess the pace and trickery on either ends, but lack the final pass in the penalty area.
23' Faizal Saari wins a penalty corner and takes the dragflick, but Imran Butt makes a good save to keep it out.
22' The game remains at the high tempo, with Malaysia looking more committed in its defending and forwards looking intent in winning penalty corner.
21' Malaysian defenders throw themselves on the line to block attacks coming through Abu Bakar and Ajaz Ahmad.
20' Pakistan is attacking through the centre with 80% of its circle entries have come in that area, while Malaysia is trying to find spaces on the right hand side.
16' Malaysia breaks away with pace, but Aiman Rozemi's pass is read poorly by Faizal Saari who makes a run into the penalty area.
First Quarter
15' Muhammad Irfan tries to enter the Malaysian circle from the right side, but he is hounded by four Malaysian defenders who draw a foul out of him and win a free hit.
12' A smart save at the other end by the experienced Kumar Subramiam, who blocks a reverse flick from a midfield pass of Tasawar Abbas.
11' Ali Shan is unable to get on the end of a vertical pass from the midfield.
9' Another great save from Imran Butt, as he positions his right boot to stop Razi Rahim's dragflick directed at the bottom centre.
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6' Malaysia attacks from the left through Fitri Saari but Paksitan defence scrambles to clear the danger.
4' Pakistan wins a corner at the other end but Aleem Bilal's dragflick---directed at the top right corner is blocked by Kumar Subramaniam.
4' Malaysia wins two penalty corners in a row. The first one is blocked by the runner and Malaysia goes for the shot from the right edge of the circle but Imran Butt positions himself well to stop the flick.
2' Pakistan has the first attempt at the goal through Ali Shan, who passes from outside the circle.
1' Malaysia begins the proceedings for the first quarter.
How they qualified
Pakistan
World Ranking: 13
After failing to qualify for the 2014 World Cup in Netherlands, four-time champion Pakistan managed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup by finishing 7th in the Hockey World League Semi-Final in London. The Green Shirts also finished as the joint-winner at the recently-concluded Asian Champions Trophy alongside India.
Malaysia
World Ranking: 12
The Malaysia Tigers have vastly improved in the past few years, by finishing fourth at the World Hockey League Semi-Final London. Roelant Oltmans' team also won the silver medal at the Asian Games 2018 by beating higher-ranked India in the semi-finals and also took home the bronze medal at the recent Asian Champions Trophy.
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