ISMAIL Abu (left pic) helped demolish the Tigers with a hat-trick in Kuala Lumpur HC's 6-0 whipping of Maybank in the first leg semi-finals of the TNB Cup at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil yesterday.
The former international, who is expected to receive a call-up from coach Paul Revington on Monday, scored in the 17th, 42nd and 53rd minutes.
The other KLHC goals were scored by Baljit Singh (48th), Azlan Misron (57th), Razie Rahim (69th).
Maybank, dubbed the Tigers, were a jaded side and the return leg on Sunday would be purely academic for KLHC.
KLHC coach K. Dharmaraj was candid when he said Christmas came early this year.
"To score six goals in the first leg is like an early Christmas present, and I could not have asked for more from my players," said Dharmaraj.
His best player of the day, Ismail Abu, was equally shocked with his performance: "Nothing special in my game today, except that I managed to score three that came my way. I would like to have another good run in the remaining two matches (second leg and also final) to help my club lift the TNB Cup as well."
In the other TNB Cup semi-finals, Mahinder Singh's 19th minute goal gave Sapura the lead but Tenaga replied via Amin Rahim off a 52nd minute penalty corner to share the spoils.
RESULTS: Premier Division Semi-finals (first leg) -- KLHC 6 Maybank 0, Tenaga Nasional 1 Sapura 1.
Division One Semi-finals -- Armed Forces 3 Bukit Jalil 2, Thunderbolts 1 Johor HA 2.
Oct 7: Premier Division Semi-finals (second leg) -- Maybank v KLHC (National Stadium Pitch II, 6pm), Sapura v Tenaga Nasional (National Stadium Pitch II, 8pm).
Division One Semi-finals -- Bukit Jalil v Armed Forces (National Stadium Pitch I, 6pm), Johor HA v Thunderbolts (National Stadium Pitch I, 8pm).
