New Zealand romp to FIH Hockey Men’s Nations Cup title as France clinch bronze

21 Jun, 2025

Five first-half goals proved decisive for New Zealand to overwhelm Pakistan in the final of the FIH Hockey Men’s Nations Cup in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday. The dominant Black Sticks added one more goal in the second half to secure a 6-2 victory, and with that, their second consecutive title and the opportunity to step up to the top-tier FIH Hockey Pro League.

In the playoff for the bronze medal, it was France who prevailed against Korea in a shootout while Wales beat hosts Malaysia to secure fifth place, and Japan came out on top in the playoff for seventh against former Nations Cup champions South Africa.

Pakistan 2 – 6 New Zealand

The tone was set early, with New Zealand twice finding the back of the net in the opening minutes, only for both goals to be disallowed. Still, they kept up the pressure and eventually broke through when Scott Cosslett converted a penalty corner to open the scoring. Just as Pakistan began to finally find their rhythm and enjoy some possession, New Zealand struck again, Jonty Elmes setting up Sam Hiha to double their lead.

Early in the second quarter, a long pass into the circle found Dylan Thomas, who reacted quickest to a rebound off the keeper to make it 3-0. Sean Findlay then blasted in a fourth after receiving an aerial pass just inside the circle and somehow slotting it in from the sharpest of angles.

Just under 10 minutes later, the Black Sticks were at it again when a lifted ball came off the Pakistani goalkeeper, and Scott Boyde was on hand to swat it home, sending the New Zealanders into the half-time break with a commanding 5-0 lead.

Left with a mountain to climb in the second half, Pakistan finally got off the mark in the 33^rd minute when Moin Shakeel found the back of the net from close range. Suddenly the men in green sparked to life, creating far more chances and looking threatening. But the New Zealand defence stood firm.

The Kiwis added one more goal from a penalty corner in the final three minutes of the match, Cosslett’s second successful drag flick, to rub salt in Pakistan’s wounds. Sufyan Khan then found one last consolation for Pakistan off a penalty corner of their own to make the 6-2 scoreline slightly more respectable.

New Zealand’s Nic Woods was named player of the match and said: “It’s nice to have one of those games where things just come together and it all clicked today. So I’m very happy that it happened in the final and very happy for our success, and looking forward to what we can accomplish together.”

France 3 – 3 Korea (SO: 3-2)

France and Korea reignited their rivalry in the bronze medal match, both sides seeking consolation after painful shootout defeats in the semifinals. Fittingly, their battle was once again settled in a shootout, with France emerging victorious to claim third place.

The opening quarter was evenly contested until the final seconds, when Louis Haertelmeyer worked his way into the circle and crossed to Benjamin Marqué who fired into the top of the net for a 1-0 French lead. Korea hit back early in the second quarter through a powerful Jihun Yang drag flick from their first penalty corner. With just under five minutes left in the half, a French penalty corner chance went awry, but Viktor Lockwood drove the ball back into the circle with Xavier Esmenjaud’s superb deflection then restoring the lead at 2-1 before the break.

France appeared to control much of the third quarter, but with just 28 seconds remaining, Korea earned their second penalty corner of the match. Dohyun Lim maintained their perfect conversion rate, firing home to make it two from two and bring the sides level once again. The Koreans then extended that record with another penalty corner goal from Yang early in the final period to take the lead for the first time. But the French responded immediately with a goal from Corentin Sellier a minute later.

The Koreans earned a late penalty corner with under five minutes to go, but this time it did not go their way, and the French held their nerve to clinch the win in the ensuing shootout.

Korea’s Dohyun Lim was named player of the match and said: “I am grateful for this award but since we lost the match, I don’t feel that great.”

Wales 2 – 1 Malaysia

Wales claimed a narrow victory over hosts Malaysia in an entertaining encounter to secure fifth place in the tournament.

The first quarter saw action at both ends, with several opportunities in front of goal. It was Malaysia who capitalised in the second period, when Sayed Cholan unleashed a powerful drag flick from a penalty corner that blazed into the bottom left corner, handing the hosts a 1–0 lead.

Although Wales enjoyed more possession in the second quarter, the Malaysians looked more threatening on attack. By the third period, Wales had gained control, though. With just over three minutes left in the quarter, Jack Pritchard initially mis-trapped a Welsh penalty corner but recovered quickly, took the ball into the circle, and hammered a shot towards goal. Rhys Bradshaw was perfectly positioned to deflect it in for the equaliser.

Wales kept up the momentum in the final quarter, and with just over 10 minutes to play, they struck again from a penalty corner. This time Gareth Furlong fired a low drag flick into the bottom left corner to edge his side 2-1 ahead. The home team launched a late push and thought they had salvaged a dramatic equaliser with just eight seconds left on the clock. However, the goal was ruled out on review, and Wales held on for the win.

Daniel Kyriakides of Wales was named player of the match and said: “We were gutted not to make the semi-finals. In our group games, there were crucial little moments that we missed out on, but I think we can call this tournament a success after today, so we’re very happy.”

Japan 2 – 1 South Africa

Japan came from a goal down to defeat former champions South Africa to avoid bottom spot in the tournament.

The South Africans took an early lead in the seventh minute thanks to a Calvin Davis drag flick off his side’s second penalty corner of the match. At the other end, Japan’s first effort off a penalty corner hit the post. Just moments later, Trevor de Lora had a golden opportunity to double the South Africans’ lead when he found himself one-on-one with the keeper from a counterattack, but his shot went wide. The second quarter remained goalless largely because of the efforts of SA keeper Hendrik Kriek, who took his side to the half-time break still 1-0 up.

Despite dominating possession, South Africa couldn’t make it count, with Japan’s defence holding firm. The third quarter saw two moments of brilliance from Japan that turned the game. An aerial ball from deep in their own half found Ryoma Ooka, who set up Ryosuke Shinohara for an impressive 35th-minute equaliser. Then, a clever behind-the-back flick from Kazumasa Matsumoto allowed Kosei Kawabe to blast them ahead seven minutes later. South Africa pulled their keeper in the final minute and earned a flurry of late penalty corners but, once again, couldn’t capitalise.