Olak look good, Tampin promising

21/06/1997

TAMPIN 1 ESA 1
OLAK 3 PJMC 0
TAMPIN District held Electrical Switchgear Automation (ESA) of Penang to a 1-1 draw in the MHF-Milo-NSC Junior League semifinals first leg at the Universiti Sains Malaysia Stadium in Penang yesterday.
At the Petaling Jaya Municipal Council Stadium, League champions Old La Sallians of Klang (Olak) stamped their mark with an easy 3-0 win over
Petaling Jaya Municipal Council (PJMC).
This draw strengthens Tampin's chances of making the final when they
host ESA at the Bukit Jalil Hockey Stadium in the return leg tomorrow.
Tampin, who only had one penalty corner and two shots at goal yesterday, took the lead in the 57th minute through a field goal from Mohamed Fairuz.
Their joy was shortlived when ESA's V. Vasandan hammered home a penalty corner two minutes later.
ESA controlled the match and had 12 penalty corners and 10 shots at goal
but good defending by Tampin denied last year double champions full
points.
Olak started from the whistle and received a penalty corner in the first
minute. Redzuan Ponirin's thundering shot whizzed past PJMC goalkeeper Adzarin Shah for the lead.
After that goal, PJMC came back strongly to pin Olak in their own half
for 15 minutes but good defending by goalkeeper Roslan Jamaluddin and
defender Kulvinder Singh shut them out.
Cheered on by a capacity crowd, Olak scored their second goal in the
19th minute when Syayrim Uda Karim pushed home his ninth goal of the
League. The score stood at 2-0 at half-time.
In the 44th minute, a good one-two by Hairul Anuar and Syayrim split the defence for Sukhwinder Singh to seal the match.
"Although two of our regulars did not play yesterday, we won because we
played as a team," said Olak team manager Joseph de Silva.
"Mohamed Fakaaruddin is down with fever while Mohamed Faizal injured his leg. I had to field two reserves and they played their hearts out.
"And in the return leg, we aim to go all out and make the final with a
comfortable margin.
"Our dream of winning the double is taking shape slowly," said Joseph.
PJMC coach Avtar Singh said the players failed to score because they did
not make use of the penalty corners that came their way.
"We received eight penalty corners but the players took direct shots at
goal, Olak's Roslan had an easy time stopping them.
"I told them before the match that Roslan is one of the best and they
must take indirect shots but that did not happen. A three-goal lead will
be hard to chase but Olak can expect a tough time tomorrow, we wil give
our best," said Avtar.
Tomorrow: S-finals 2nd leg: Olak v PJMC (PJMC Stadium, 5.0); Tampin v ESA (Bukit Jalil, 5.0); June 28 - 3rd placing (3.30); Final (5.30) - Bukit
Jalil.
(END)