Pakistan Vs China Semifinal Asian Champions Trophy 2024 Highlights: CHN Into Final After Shoot-out Win Over PAK

Welcome to the live coverage of the first semifinal of the Asian Champions Trophy 2024 being played between Pakistan and the hosts China.

Pakistan and China go head to head in some time to become the first team to get into the final of the Asian Champions Trophy 2024.

Pakistan defeated China 5-1 in the group stage encounter between the two teams.

Pakistan results in the group stage of Asian Champions Trophy 2024:

Pakistan 2-2 Malaysia

Pakistan 2-2 Korea

Pakistan 2-1 Japan

Pakistan 5-1 China

Pakistan 1-2 India

China results in the group stage of Asian Champions Trophy 2024:

China 0-3 India

China 4-2 Malaysia

China 2-3 Korea

China 1-5 Pakistan

China 2-0 Japan

This is how the points table looked at the end of the group stage. Pakistan finished second with eight points, China third with six.

We will begin soon. Pakistan and China are about to go head to head in the first semifinal of the Asian Champions Trophy 2024.

Pakistan have entered the semifinal seven times out of the eight Asian Champions Trophy tournaments that have taken place till date. For China, this is their third semifinal entry and they have never managed to win at this stage. Pakistan have lost just once in the semifinals of the tournament.

We had a brilliant fifth place play-off match just some time back. Malaysia took lead three times but it was levelled every single time by Japan and after an hour of hockey the scores were tied at 4-4. Japan then managed to steal a win in the shootout, defeating Malaysians 4-2.

It is 8-1 in favour of Pakistan against China in the head to head record. One match ended up as a draw. A massive test for the hosts today. Can they notch up their second win against the mighty Pakistan? We will know soon.

Players out for national anthem. We have Pakistan whose anthem is being played first. The hosts will then have their national anthem on the ground. A good crowd out at the Moqi Training Base to support the home team.

The countdown is over and the play begins. Pakistan in white and green while China in yellow with a bit of red sprinkled. China begin with the ball.

12' Chen Qijun has been shown a green card and will have to sit the next two minutes out. An early break for him. Pakistan have made a few runs deep in the Chinese half but the attacks have not come. Good defensive start from China.

10' Five minutes gone and both teams have not been able to make any strong attacking moves so far in the game. Some good defence from both sides. China have tried to play long balls deep into the D while Pakistan are attempting skillful runs into the opponent circle.

An excellent crowd fully backing Chinese players in Moqi.

5' China have dominated possession so far in this quarter. The play has totally been played inside the Pakistani half. Great start for China and Pakistan have been put under pressure but the Pakistanis have managed to do well in the defence. No PCs conceded by Pakistan and no major dangerous attacks from China even after holding the ball.

Good first quarter and we have not seen any team getting lead. China have kept the ball for longer period in the first fifteen minutes but they have not been able to turn it into any big attacks. Pakistan's attack too has sturggled to do much inside the Chinese D. The goalkeeper of both teams have breathed easy so far.

The second quarter underway now and Pakistan have earned the first PC of the match. China have trouble and Pakistan get a big opportunity.

13' Four back-to-back PCs for Pakistan and four great blocks from the Chinese first rusher. Brilliant defence from China and they have managed to blunt four of Pakistan PCs.

12' China SCORE!!!

Lu Yuanlin has broken the deadlock with the PC. A little bit of deflection but he and the Chinese team would not complain. China get the lead and all the pressue they have applied finally bears fruit. The crowd is ecstatic and China are ahead.

The crowd is absolutely raucous whenever China is making an attacking move, which is happening quite often today. Pakistan totally under pressure. They really need a good moment of brilliance to cheer up.

6' More than 20 minutes in the match have passed and Pakistan have not been able to make one strong chance from the field. They got four PCs in one go but could not trouble the Chinese defence that much. China have controlled the ball so well that the ball has not quite travelled into their D for any significant time.

4' PC for Pakistan and this time the injection just could not be trapped. They have managed to get the ball in the goal but from outside the D. Pakistan do make a good move from the corner with Hannan Shahid trying to find a player on the goal mouth for a deflection. But a diving Pakistani player misses the ball as it rolls out of bounds.

1' China continuing their good work and the pressure continues to be on Pakistan. Again China make some good moves in the midfield to push the ball inside the Pakistani D but the hosts could not control the ball near the backline. A good attack in the making is ended.

It is half-time and Pakistan are trailing against the hosts China. The difference is just one goal though and that is something that would give Pakistan confidence. China have really controlled the proceedings with a very vocal crowd fully supporting them.

Pakistan have got five PCs, with four in once go, but have not been able to make enough chances in normal play. China scored in the 18th minute with Lu Yuanlin converting a PC. Pakistan did do well in the closing minutes of the second quarter but they need more.

Players are off the field for a break.

We are into the second half now and the third quarter is underway. Pakistan with the ball and they are trailing by one goal. China have been really really good and that goal is the reward of the good work.

By the way, we had a performance in the middle while the pitch was being watered and the players were off it.

14' Pakistan with a chance within seconds of the whistle in the third quarter. A superb slam from outside the D from the right by Shakeel Butt trying to find someone in the circle who could put a stick to it but it is so quick that no Pakistan player gets a chance.

10' Pakistan have come back really strong in the first five minutes of the third quarter. A good chance created early on by Pakistan and since then they have been lurking around the Chinese circle. That equaliser has still not come and China continue to be organised in defence but the pressure is rising for the hosts.

8' Pakistan SCORE!!!

Ahmad Nadeem finds the net. Chinese have reviewed it though. They are appealing for a dangerous raise of stick but it has been denied by the umpires and Pakistan find the equaliser. The ball rose above heads of the players inside the Chinese D and it seems the Chinese thought it came from a Pakistani player and was dangerous. But Ahmad Nadeem controls the ball and slams a backhand past the Chinese goalkeeper.

China take a review but the umpire upholds the goal. Pakistan level scores!

4' Pakistan continue to attack and Chinese defence is finally getting really tested in this match.

Another great save from the Chinese goalkeeper and Rana Waheed, standing right at the goal mouth, is denied what could have been their second goal. Waheed has the ball just meters away from the goalpost but the Chinese goalkeeper has his pads down at the right moment to ensure China do not go behind in the game.

We have finished three quarters and we head for a final break. Pakistan have found the equaliser and they have remained on the charge all through this quarter. China have defended well but they will need to be a bit more strong in the back to stop Pakistan who are looking really dangerous now.

Pakistan begin with the ball and start right with a long ball into the Chinese half. Not much comes out of the first attack and China take a counter but a bad pass ends the counter as well.

12' China get a chance but a great save from Pakistan goalkeeper Abdullah Ishtiaq Khan. China steal the ball from Pakistan right outside the D and they have an advantage of two players to one but still manage to squander the opportunity. This missed chance would hurt China for sure.

7' We are at the halfway stage in the final quarter and an unmissable back and forth going on currently. Teams are trying to make moves but brilliant defence from both sides continuously keeping the scores locked at 1-1.

4' Pakistan trying to make an attack but a back stick inside the D throws the attack off track. Thrilling game going on at the Moqi Training Base with crowd totally behind China. Both sides getting the ball back from the other only hand it back again. A lot of wasted attacks but some really good end to end hockey on display.

2' China deep inside their half. Giving away everything to ensure that Pakistan can not find space into the Chinese half. Looking like we are headed to a shootout in the first semifinal.

0.20' Good defence from China. They have continously made clean tackles and have made some great interceptions near the goal post. Pakistan have taken a review demanding a PC for stick check. Not a PC and only a free hit for Pakistan.

That is the final hooter and we head into the shootout. China opened the scoring in the second quarter and Pakistan got one back in the third. Some sensational hockey on display from both the sides. China started well but after the half-time Pakistan really dominated. The scoreline though stayed at 1-1. Here we go into the shootout now.

China will be taking the shots first, Pakistan will be second. Pakistan have changed their goalkeeper just for the shoot out to Muneeb Ur Rahaman. A really interesting call. And here we go.

China score in the first while Pakistan miss.

Shootout score: CHN 1-0 PAK

China score the second one and Pakistan miss again. Some great goalkeeping from the Chinese custodian.

Shootout score CHN 2-0 PAK

China and Pakistan both can not score the third one.

Shootout score: CHN 2-0 PAK

China miss but Pakistan miss too and China are though to the final

Final shoot out score: CHN 2-0 PAK

CHINA WIN!!!

Chinese players break into celebrations and the crowd goes berserk. A massive win for China and that too at the place where Chinese hockey was born. The fans in Moqi Training Base go wild and so do the Chinese players as they have made it to the final of the Asian Champions Trophy 2024.

Wow!!! As exceptional as it gets. And we have got our first finalist: CHINA. Massive victory and perhaps the biggest in Chinese hockey history.

Wang Caiyu, the goalkeeper, emerges as the hero for China. Four shots in the shootout and four blocks made by Caiyu. Totally exceptional performance. Pakistan will be immensely disappointed with their shootout performance they could not convert even one. But Caiyu deserves all the credit. Top class goalkeeping in the match and then takes it a level up in the shootout when China needed it the most.

While China have made it to the final, the second semifinal between India and Korea will be underway in some time. Follow the India vs South Korea semifinal at Outlook by clicking HERE

This is the first time China have made it to the final of the Asian Champions Trophy. Before this there best finish was fourth. They had never been able to win a semifinal in this tournament. But today they have made history. The first semifinalists of the Asian Champions Trophy 2024 are CHINA.

China started on the frontfoot, keeping possession for the majority of time in the first half. However, the attacks were still not threatening the Pakistani defence. Then Lu Yuanlin found the net in the second quarter to give China the lead, a position they maintained till the first half. However, Pakistan came back strongly in the third quarter, making chances after chances. Finally Ahmad Nadeem smashed a powerful backhand to get the equaliser. The final fifteen minutes saw an excellent back and forth between the two teams and in the sixty minutes of regulation time both had scored one goal each.

The shootout saw Wang Caiyu saving all four of Pakistan's shots to hand Pakistan an exit.

Good game of hockey and China will face one of India and Korea in the final. We will cover it too on Tuesday but till then,Goodbye!