Can Malaysia Upset South Korea in Asia Cup 2025?

Rajgir (Bihar), Aug 30 (NationPress) In a thrilling match, Malaysia stunned the reigning champions South Korea with a score of 4-1, marking a significant upset in the Men’s Asia Cup Hockey 2025. This victory boosts their chances of leading the group and enhances their prospects of reaching the final showdown.

Earlier, Bangladesh rejuvenated their campaign with a dominating 8-3 victory over Chinese Taipei.

Malaysia's remarkable performance positions them strongly for a Super 4 slot.

For Chinese Taipei, this substantial loss nearly extinguishes their hopes, while South Korea now faces increased pressure to perform in a group that has become highly competitive.

In the match against Korea, it was Geonhyo Jin who opened the scoring just two minutes in, but Malaysia responded with vigor. Akhimullah Anuar stole the spotlight with an impressive hat-trick, while Ashran Hamsani contributed another goal. This result places Malaysia at the top of Pool B with two consecutive wins, while Korea finds themselves under pressure as they look ahead to their remaining matches.

After Geonhyo Jin scored early for South Korea, Malaysia quickly adapted. By the second quarter, they found their rhythm, applying consistent pressure and crafting opportunities in Korea's defensive zone. A slick play resulted in Anuar leveling the score with skillful footwork.

In the third quarter, Malaysia struck again, this time through Ashran Hamsani, who capitalized on a turnover to score at the 33-minute mark. Shortly after, Anuar scored again from a penalty corner, doubling his tally.

Despite South Korea's attempts to bounce back, the Malaysian defense remained resilient. In the closing moments, Anuar completed his hat-trick, solidifying his status as the star player and securing a remarkable 4-1 victory for Malaysia.

With this win, Malaysia is well-positioned for a spot in the Super 4s. Meanwhile, Korea faces critical questions as they prepare for their upcoming matches.

Bangladesh decisively defeated Chinese Taipei with a score of 8-3 in a Pool B contest. After a shaky start, the Bangladesh team demonstrated a commanding performance in the second half, earning essential points and reigniting their hopes of advancing to the Super 4 stage.

Following a 1-4 loss to Malaysia in their first match, Bangladesh was determined to secure a win against Chinese Taipei, who had suffered a 0-7 defeat to South Korea in their opener. The halftime score was tied at 2-2, as Bangladesh's early goals were countered by spirited efforts from Chinese Taipei.

Bangladesh intensified their attack in the third quarter, repeatedly penetrating the opposition's defense while their penalty corner unit executed precise strikes. Almost immediately after the restart, Rakibul Hasan netted two quick goals, providing Bangladesh with a crucial lead.

Ashraful Islam, known for his drag-flick skills, contributed to the goal tally, while Rezaul Babu made his international scoring debut with a clever deflection.

The barrage of goals left Chinese Taipei reeling, though they managed a late response through Shih Tsung-Jen. By that point, the outcome was already determined.

Result summary:

Malaysia 4 (Akhimullah Anuar 3; Ashran Hamsani 1) defeated South Korea 1 (Geonhyo Jin 1)

Bangladesh 8 (Ashraful Islam 2, Rakibul Hasan 2, Rezaul Babu, Mohammad Mohsin, Pritom Kumar, Khorshed Alam) defeated Chinese Taipei 3 (Shih Tsung-Jen 2, Lin Po-Yu).