Shello scores twice as Malaysia fight back against Pakistan to reach semis

By the Editorial Team · Sunday, September 27, 2026

Shello Silverius scored twice to lead Malaysia to a 5-4 comeback win over Pakistan in their Asian Games hockey Group B match, securing a place in the semi-finals. This victory highlights Malaysia's resilience and sets up a crucial next game against China as they aim to advance further in the tournament.

Shello Silverius played a pivotal role as Malaysia staged a remarkable comeback to defeat Pakistan 5-4 in their Group B match at the Gifu Prefectural Green Stadium on Saturday, securing a place in the Asian Games hockey semi-finals.

The 27-year-old midfielder, competing in his second Asian Games, scored twice to help overturn an early deficit. Pakistan’s Sufyan Khan opened the scoring in the third minute with a goal from a penalty corner, but Shello quickly equalized two minutes later. Malaysia then took the lead in the 23rd minute through striker Faizal Saari’s penalty corner conversion, ending the first half 2-1.

Pakistan’s penalty corner specialist Sufyan Khan demonstrated his prowess again in the second half, scoring three more goals in the 39th, 43rd, and 46th minutes to bring the visitors ahead 4-2. Faizal responded for Malaysia with his second penalty corner goal in the 45th minute, but Pakistan maintained a two-goal advantage going into the final quarter.

Malaysia mounted a strong recovery in the closing stages, with Shello scoring his second goal in the 56th minute to narrow the gap. Just a minute later, striker Azrai Aizad Abu Kamal netted the decisive goal, completing the comeback and securing victory for Malaysia.

After the match, Shello emphasized the importance of teamwork and resilience, stating that while his two goals were significant, the team’s spirit was paramount. He added that the tournament holds special meaning for him and Malaysian hockey supporters and highlighted the high intensity of the competition. Looking ahead, Shello expressed confidence in Malaysia’s upcoming group match against China, acknowledging that they will need to maintain their focus to secure another win.

Malaysia’s coach Brendan Carolan praised his team’s mental toughness and determination to overcome the deficit but noted concerns about their penalty corner defense. “I’m really proud of the guys to be that mentally resilient, to come back and get a result like that,” he said.

The result ensures Malaysia’s progression to the semi-finals, where they will aim to build on this hard-fought victory as the tournament advances.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.