KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia blew a golden chance to beat Pakistan when they conceded a penalty stroke in the last minute and drew 4-4 in the opening Group B match of the Nations Cup in Gniezno, Poland today.
The Green Shirts, who were trailing 4-3 with a minute remaining, received a penalty stroke in the dying seconds, which was converted by Abu Mahmood.
Despite the bumpy pitch, the Speedy Tigers started with a bang in the first quarter by scoring three quick goals in seven minutes.
Malaysia had played Pakistan 37 times since the 1968 Mexico Olympics, losing 22 times, drawing six and winning nine.
Fitri Saari converted a penalty stroke in the fourth minute and Azrai Aizad Abu Kamal increased Malaysia's lead in the seventh minute. Faizal Saari converted a penalty corner in the 11th minute to make it 3-0.
Abdul Rehman narrowed the deficit for Pakistan in the 32nd minute, but Fitri converted another stroke in the 42nd to give Malaysia a comfortable 4-1 lead.
But then the Malaysian defence, led by captain Marhan Jalil, crumbled under pressure.
Pakistan, who edged Malaysia 5-4 in the opening match in the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in Ipoh in May, fought back to score three goals through Sufyan Khan (43rd), Hannan Shahid (52nd) and Abu Mahmood (60th).
Three Malaysian players, Nur Rahull Hrsikesa Thaitchana Muruthi, Syawal Abdul Razak and Kamarulzaman Kamaruddin made their international debut for the Speedy Tigers today.
National coach Sarjit Singh said: "We were playing well enough to win the match but the match ended in a draw.
"The first two quarters were good, but in the third and fourth quarters, we were under pressure. We started to make mistakes and allowed Pakistan to create chances to score to draw the match.
"Our players' commitment on the pitch was outstanding, but we lost out on experience.
"We created enough chances to win the match but our finishing was poor.
''We need to make less mistakes in the D and take our scoring chances.
'We need to recover well and focus on the match against France next.''