Malaysia Fail To Make ACT 2026 Final After Shootout Loss To Japan

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 4 (Bernama) -- The national hockey team's hopes of reaching the final of the Asian Champions Trophy (ACT) 2026 were dashed after losing 5-3 on penalties in the semi-final in Punjab, India, today.

The two teams drew 0-0 in regulation time at the Surjit Singh Hockey Stadium, forcing the match into a penalty shootout.

With Japan leading 4-3 in the shootout, Faizal Saari failed to convert Malaysia's fourth attempt. Japan converted their fifth attempt to seal victory and book their place in the final.

Japan’s scorers in the shootout were Kazumasa Matsumoto, Ryoma Ooka, Tanaka Tsubasa, Haruki Ochiai and Tanaka Seren.

Nik Aiman Rozemi, Shello Silverius and Azrai Aizad Abu Kamal converted for Malaysia in the shootout. 

Malaysia will now face either India or South Korea in the third-fourth placing match.

Speedy Tigers head coach Brendon Carolan, while praising his men for a positive performance, said their failure to convert the chances created during the match ultimately proved costly.

He said Malaysia controlled the game well, put their opponents under pressure and defended stoutly, but were let down by their poor finishing.

"We had loads of corners. I think it comes down to not converting our corners at critical moments. You know, we had a high corner count... we should have won," he said in a video clip shared by the Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC).

-- BERNAMA