(From left) Nabil Fiqri, Azlan Misron and tengku Ahmad Tajuddin celebrate scoring KLHC’s second goal against Maybank in a TNB Cup match at the National Hockey Stadium yesterday. KLHC won 6-1. — Picture by Supian AhmadBy Ajitpal Singh
DEFENDING champions Kuala Lumpur HC (KLHC) have virtually qualified for the TNB Cup final after a convincing 6-1 victory over Maybank in the semi-final first leg at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil yesterday.
In the other match, Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) hammered in four goals in the opening 15 minutes to beat Sapura 5-3.
KLHC, led by nine national players, unleashed their fury by finding the back of the net six times with Nabil Fiqri Mohd Noor and Tengku Ahmad Tajuddi Abdul Jalil opening the floodgates in the 10th and 12th minutes.
But Maybank's Hafifihafiz Hanafi reduced the deficit with a fine reverse stick goal in the 29th minute.
Maybank's initial dominance in the second half turned into tatters as former international Chua Boon Huat added the third in the 43rd minute for a 3-1 lead.
KLHC turned on the heat in the final 10 minutes with three goals through Muhd Amerullah Abd Aziz 961st), Tengku Ahmad Tajuddin (66th) and Ismail Abu (70th).
"We went for early goals and scored two in the opening minutes which forced Maybank to ditch their defensive approach," said KLHC team manager George Koshy yesterday.
"It is a good lead to take into the second leg but nothing can be considered a certainty as there are still 70 minutes to be played."
RESULTS -- KLHC 6 Maybank 1, TNB 5 Sapura 3.
FIXTURES -- Tomorrow: S-Finals (2nd leg): Sapura v TNB (6pm), Maybank v KLHC (8pm). -- Matches at the National Hockey Stadium (Pitch Two) in Bukit Jalil.
