Pakistan withstood all that Asian Games champions Japan threw at them in a goalless draw in the Asian Champions Trophy in Dhaka on Tuesday.

Kenta Tanaka missed a sitter in the last second of the match played at the Maulana Bhasani Stadium. The hero of the 2018 Asian Games final, won by Japan over Malaysia, failed to score from point-blank range following a cross from the right with goalkeeper Mazhar Abbas beaten.

Tanaka’s attempt went just wide a split second before the hooter, depriving Japan of a deserved victory.

Dutchman Sigfried Aikman who coached Japan to the Asian Games gold was in the dugout, this time with Pakistan, and his influence seemed to perk up the defence so often the bugbear of many a Pakistan campaign. The experienced Umar Bhutta was key to holding the midfield and defence together as Japan attacked in waves.

Pakistan, on their part, could have wrested the match against the run of play but a shortfall of ideas in around the striking circle kept the Japanese goal intact.

At the other end, Abbas’ vigil saved the day for Pakistan and the goalkeeper who landed in Dhaka less than 24 hours earlier after a visa problem was solved did excellently well to pick up the player of the match award.

Pakistan are joint-holders with India at Muscat 2018 when incessant rain washed out the final.

India and Pakistan have won three titles each ever since the tournament was incepted in 2011 in the Chinese city of Ordos where the former won in a shootout.

India who drew with South Korea 2-2 in the opener earlier in the day take on Bangladesh on Wednesday at 3 PM (IST).

Japan and South Korea play the second match at 5.30pm (IST)