Sapura dent TNB's bid

MHL: Come from behind twice to share spoils

TENAGA NASIONAL failed to grab the top spot in the Premier Division of the Malaysia Hockey League when they were held to a 2-2 draw by Sapura yesterday.
  TNB, who beat UniKL 4-2 on Friday, failed to convert their chances numerous chances after taking the lead twice.
  TNB took the lead after only three minutes when skipper Amin Rahim's powerful flick of their first penalty beat Sapura keeper Hairi Abdul Rahman.
  Sapura immediately mounted a counter and won their first penalty corner in the fourth minute, but it was a disappointing outcome as Megat Azrafiq failed to trap the push-out by Izwan Firdaus Ahmad Tajuddin.
  Sapura then lived dangerously as Faizal Saari and Firhan Ashaari squandered sitters.
  But they found the equaliser in the 30th minute from their second penalty corner, when Pakistani Khasif Ali made a powerful drive.
  However, TNB restored their lead two minutes before halftime when an unmarked Faizal slotted home from an acute angle.
  The second half saw the same script, as TNB did most of the attacking while Sapura relied on counter-attacks to break free.
  Sapura found the equaliser again in the 54th minute, against the run of play, from their third penalty corner when Khasif stepped up once again to send a powerful flick past national goalkeeper S. Kumar.
  Tenaga remain second on six points, while Kuala Lumpur Hockey Club top the table with seven points.
  Results -- Premier Division: Sapura 2 Tenaga Nasional 2.
  Division One: TNB Thunderbolts 2 Ipoh City Council 2, Tengku Mahkota Ismail SS 1 UniTen 3.
  SUNDAY -- Premier Division: KLHC v Nur Insafi (National Stadium Pitch II, 6pm), Maybank v UniKL (National Stadium Pitch I, 6pm), Terengganu v Sapura (National Stadium Pitch II, 8pm).