IPOH: Malaysia ended their 2025 Sultan Azlan Shah Cup campaign in fourth place after suffering a 6-1 thrashing at the hands of New Zealand in the bronze medal match on Sunday (Nov 30).
The Speedy Tigers’ sluggish start saw them punished right away as New Zealand captain Sam Lane sent two field goals flying past Malaysian goalkeeper Hafizuddin Othman in the fifth and seventh minutes.
The Black Sticks kept the goals coming as James Hickson got himself on the scoresheet thanks to a field goal in the 29th minute.
It was then Lane’s night at the Azlan Shah Stadium as he scored three back-to-back goals (33rd, 34th, 41st minutes) in the third quarter.
Malaysia, however, didn’t leave empty-handed as they got a consolation goal in the 43rd minute after veteran forward Faizal Saari converted a penalty stroke.
It was a repeat result for Malaysia, which also finished fourth at last year’s edition after falling 3-2 to New Zealand.
Malaysia, which has only won the tournament once in 2022, recorded its ninth fourth-place finish at the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup.
