Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Malacca-Project final

MALACCA could only edge Negri Sembialan 3-2, but it was enough to qualify for the Division One final of the 47th Razak Cup at the Tun Razak Stadium yesterday.
And Project 2013 followed suit, when they drew 3-3 with Penang in a bruising match.
Penang took a 3-1 lead, and the juniors, who only needed a draw to play in the final, rallied strongly in the second half and scored off two penalty corners to realise their dream with one match in hand against Malacca today.
"My boys deserve credit, and even though they were down by two goals, they never lost their structure," said Project coach K. Dharmaraj.
The Project scorers were Firhan Ashari (33rd), Nor Faeez Ibrahim (54th, 56th). The Penang goals were off Mohamed Azri (7th), Izwan Firdaus (38th, 48th).
Yesterday, Malacca took a 2-0 lead off Nor Ikram Sulaiman (fourth) and B. Namasivayam (sixth), but Negri drew level when Suhaimi Ibrahim (10th) and Meor Shaaril (13th) scored.
However, Mihardy Nawawi nailed the winner in the 29th minute to take Malacca into the final.
"We played badly against Negri Sembilan, but the thre points took us to the final. Now, we will rest some players, including Chua Boon Huat (who has one yellow card to his name) in our last match against Project tomorrow (today)," said Malacca coach K. Balakrishnan.
Malacca would be foolish to go all out against the Project squad, as they will be playing the final the next day itself.
In Division Two, Armed Forces and Singapore will play in the final tomorrow.
In the semi-finals yesterday, Armed Forces hammered Kedah 7-1, while Singapore were leading Selangor 2-1 when rain disrupted second half play, and the score stood.
RESULTS: Division One -- Negri Sembilan 2 Malacca 3, Kuala Lumpur 1 Perak 3, Penang 3 Project 2013 3.
Division Two: Semi-finals: Armed Forces 7 Kedah 1, Selangor 1 Singapore 2.
Fifth-Eighth: Brunei 1 Perlis 3, Pahang 5 Police 4.
TODAY: Division One -- Malacca v Project 2013 (3pm), Johor v Penang (5pm), Kuala Lumpur v Negri Sembilan (7pm) -- Matches at the Tun Razak Stadium.
Division Two: Fifth-Sixth: Perlis v Pahang (5.30pm); Seventh-Eighth: Brunei v Police (3.30pm) -- Matches at the KLHA Stadium.

DIVISION ONE
P W D L F A Pts
PROJECT 2013 5 3 2 0 19 10 11
MALACCA 5 3 2 0 10 7 11
PERAK 6 2 2 2 16 11 8
JOHOR 5 2 1 2 12 8 7
K LUMPUR 5 2 0 3 16 15 6
PENANG 5 1 1 3 12 17 4
NEGRI 5 1 0 4 8 25 3

Project a step away from final

PROJECT 2013 are just one step away from qualifying for the Division One final of the 47th Razak Cup when they beat Johor 3-2 at the Tun Razak Stadium yesterday.
The Project boys, unbeaten so far, have two more matches against Penang and Malacca, and they only need one win to cement their spot in the final.
Project took a 2-0 lead off Fahed Saifullah (16th) and Faiz Helmi (26th), but Johor levelled the score with goals from Amir Hamzah in the 46th and 64th minutes.
The Project winner was delivered in the 68th minute by Syamim Yusof, after he collected an overhead pass and beat goalkeeper Ahmad Bazli with ease.
"I am a little surprised with the progress made by my boys since the under-23 tournament. They have matured much faster than I anticipated, and now we are in contention to play in the final.
"And the plan is to try and get the three points from Penang (today), and ease the pressure in our last match against Malacca," said Project coach K. Dharmaraj.
The boys were in their element against Johor, and should have won easily if not for the bungled sitters.
"We missed too many sitters, but then, I am happy that the boys have started to think for themselves especially during penalty corner situations.
"I took a step back, and allowed them to make decisions during penalty corners, and they made the right choices."
Meanwhile, Kuala Lumpur blasted Penang 6-2 in another Division One match to keep their hopes alive of playing in the final.
KL have two more matches to make ammends for their poor start in the tournament. They play Perak today, and Negri Sembilan tomorrow and two wins might even see them top the table.
The KL goals were scored by Fairuz Ramli (sixth, 52nd), Mahinder Singh (25th), Tajol Rosli (47th, 61st), Faizal Daud (70th). Khairil Anuar scored a brace for Penang in the 18th and 38th minutes.
RESULTS: Division One: Kuala Lumpur 6 Penang 2, Project 2013 3 Johor

2, Negri Sembilan 2 Perak 8.
Division Two: Group A -- Sabah 1 Brunei 3, Police 1 Armed Forces 6;

Group B: Selangor 1 Kedah 0, Pahang 6 Perlis 1.
TODAY: Division One -- Negri Sembilan v Malacca (3pm), Kuala Lumpur

v Perak (5pm), Penang v Project 2013 (7pm) -- All matches at the Tun

Razak Stadium.
Division Two: Semi-finals: Armed Forces v Kedah (KLHA, 3.30pm),

Selangor v Singapore (KLHA, 5.30pm).
Fifth-Eighth: Brunei v Perlis (KLHA, 7.30am), Pahang v Police (KLHA,

9.30am);


DIVISION ONE
P W D L F A Pts
PROJECT 2013 4 3 1 0 16 7 10
MALACCA 4 2 2 0 7 5 8
JOHOR 5 2 1 2 12 8 7
K LUMPUR 4 2 0 2 15 12 6
PERAK 5 1 2 2 13 10 5
PENANG 4 1 0 3 9 14 3
NEGRI 4 1 0 3 6 22 3


DIVISION TWO

GROUP A

P W D L F A Pts
FORCES 4 3 1 0 27 5 10
SINGAPORE 4 3 1 0 17 6 10
BRUNEI 4 1 1 2 6 19 4
POLICE 4 0 2 2 8 14 2
SABAH 4 0 1 3 3 17 1

GROUP B
P W D L F A Pts
SELANGOR 3 3 0 0 13 3 9
KEDAH 3 2 0 1 3 2 6
PAHANG 3 1 0 2 9 9 3
PERLIS 3 0 0 3 2 13 0

Waive hosting fee, say MHF

MALAYSIA will consider hosting the Asian Champions Trophy, provided the Asian Hockey Federation (AHF) waive the hosting fee of US20,000, and provide a new date.
The inaugural Asian Champions Trophy was supposed to be held in Pakistan at the end of the year, but Pakistan have since withdrew.
THe AHF then offered Malaysia to host it, and the Malaysian Hockey Federation (MHF) management committee, which met yesterday, placed two conditions.
The inaugural tournament will see South Korea, Pakistan, China and Malaysia battle for the title.
"We might host the tournament if AHF agres to waive the hoisting fee, and also find another suitable date. It was proposed by AHF that the tournament be held in January, but our schedule is tight at the start of the year, and we would prefer another date from AHF," said MHF vice-president Datuk Dr S.S. Cheema.