No clear favourites

03/05/2003

THERE were no clear favourites in the semi-finals first leg matches of the
MHF-Milo-Admiral-NSC Junior Hockey League played at two venues in Kuala
Lumpur yesterday.
Malaysia Sports School struggled to edge Anderson XYbase 3-2 at the Tun
Razak Stadium, while Tenaga and Telekom Pahang played to a goalless draw
at the KLHA Stadium in Jalan Pantai.
Tenaga played one of their worst matches yesterday even though Telekom
Pahang were forced to utilise eight of their players for the entire 70
minutes because they did not have enough substitutes.
B. Raj Kumar, AWOL for three days, made a surprise return and Telekom
Pahang coach Izwan Suhardi used him to the maximum.
Tenaga were pinned in their half as Telekom Pahang used long balls to
rip their midfield but the lone figure of Al-Fadhir Kassim became
increasingly frustrated as Tenaga goalkeeper Fitri Aziz brought out some
sterling saves even though his defenders were caught flat-footed on
numerous occasions.
Tenaga goal-getters Kelvinder Singh, S. Selvaraju and Abbas Nekmat did
nothing right in the semi-circle, and the handful of chances they did
manage to get off always found Telekom goalkeeper Kairulnizam Ibrahim in
his element.
As the match progressed, it was getting evident that Telekom Pahang
would achieve their target of keeping a clean slate and go for the kill in
the second leg.
At the Tun Razak Stadium, Malaysia Sports School scored two early goals
but failed to beat schoolboys Anderson XYbase.
Malaysia SS scored in the second minute off a Nor Affazly Ghafar penalty
corner and by the 11th minute, they were two-up via a field goal from
Amerullah Aziz.
But Anderson were not broken and Baljit Singh took his team to level
terms when he fired home two penalty corner goals in the 18th and 25th
minutes.
Anderson XYbase took control of the match but gave away the third goal
when umpire Paramjit Singh changed his mind.
Paramjit first awarded a free hit to Anderson, but when he felt that
Baljit was wasting time, awarded Malaysia SS a penalty corner which was
converted by Nor Affazly.
Anderson XYbase coach Mokhtar Baharuddin said the one-goal defecit was a
minor hic-cup for his boys.
"We have won half the battle by only giving away one goal in the first
leg. Playing at the Azlan Shah Stadium, in front of our own fans, I know
that my boys can make the first final after playing in the JHL for eight
seasons," said Mokhtar.
Tomorrow - S-finals 2nd leg: Anderson XYbase v Malaysia Sports School
(Azlan Shah Stadium, 5.15pm); Telekom Pahang v Tenaga Nasional (Kuantan
Stadium, 5.15pm). SEMI-FINALS 1ST LEG
MALAYSIA SS.............3 ANDERSON.............2
TENAGA..................0 T'KOM PAHANG.........0
(END)