Malaysia advances to historic Hockey5s World Cup Final

In a heart-stopping semi-final clash at the inaugural men’s Hockey5s World Cup in Muscat, Oman, Malaysia secured a hard-fought 4-3 victory against Poland, earning themselves a well-deserved spot in the tournament’s final.

The Malaysian team started the game on a high note when Arif Syafie Ishak converted a penalty stroke in the seventh minute, giving them an early 1-0 lead. However, Poland responded swiftly with a goal from Damian Jarzembowski just two minutes later, leveling the score at 1-1.

Undeterred, Malaysia regained the lead in the 19th minute as Kamarulzaman Kamaruddin found the back of the net. Captain Akhimullah Anuar Esook extended the advantage with a remarkable brace in the 22nd and 24th minutes, bringing Malaysia’s lead to 4-1.

Despite Poland’s late comeback attempts with goals from Wojciech Rutkowski (27th) and Jakub Holosyniuk (30th), Malaysia managed to hold onto their lead, securing a place in the final.

Malaysia set to face Netherlands

Malaysia will face the Netherlands in the final, who defeated Oman 5-3 in their semi-final matchup. The Dutch team displayed resilience throughout the tournament, overcoming India in the quarter-final and then triumphing over the host nation, Oman, in the semi-final.

The clash between Malaysia and the Netherlands promises to be a thrilling showdown to determine the first-ever men’s FIH Hockey5s world champions. Meanwhile, Oman and Poland will compete for the bronze medal in what is expected to be another intense battle on the field.

In the Challenger Trophy, Pakistan and Switzerland will face off for the consolation prize among teams that did not reach the quarter-finals.

Reflecting on the semi-final victory, Malaysia’s captain, Akhimullah Anuar, credited the team’s determination and improvement throughout the tournament. He acknowledged the sacrifices made by the players and expressed gratitude for the team’s progress despite a challenging start.

The excitement builds as the teams gear up for the final showdown on Thursday, February 1, eager to etch their names in history as the first-ever men’s FIH Hockey5s world champions.