Briged Tenggara made a late comeback to defeat Negri Sembilan 4-1 and qualify for the Division One semi-finals from Group B in the IGP Cup Hockey Tournament at the Wisma Belia Hockey Stadium in Kuantan Monday.
Both teams were tied on six points – three behind Terengganu before start of the game. It was a deciding match which eventually saw the much fitter Briged Tenggara capitalising on the many penalty corners.
Muhd Subri Abdul Rahman fired Negeri Sembilan ahead with a 34th minute penalty corner conversion but it was Briged Tenggara who went on to steal the show with goals from Mohd Riduan Zakaria (48th), Mohd Naim Ibrahim (55th), Wan Mohd Nazri Wan Abdullah (56th) and Muhamad Azrullah Azman (60th).
In tomorrow’s semi-finals, Briged Tenggara will meet Sabah while Terengganu, who coasted to a 2-1 win over Melaka in penalties after a 3-3 draw in regulation time, will play Briged Utara.
“I am delightred with the fighting spirit shown by the players. It was going to be a tough game from the beginnng as both teams are in the running for a semifinals berth,” said Briged Tenggara manager, Lance Corporal Jeremy Aloysious Maing.
Terengganu emerged Group B champions with 11 points followed by Briged Tenggara nine points, Negeri Sembilan (6), Melaka (4) and Perlis (0).
Suher Romzie scored for Melaka in the fourh minute before Terengganu went to 2-1 ahead with goals from Muhamad Ashraf Abdul Halim (20th) and Mohd Syukry Ali (28th).
A rejuvenated Melaka then equalised through Mohd Faizal (43rd) and Mohd Hanif Aziman steered his side to a 3-2 lead with a field goal in the 45th minute. Terengganu avoided defeat with a 59th minute field goal via Azrul Hisham Zahari to level 3-3, pushing the match into penalties.
“Since we have already qualfied for the semi-finals much earlier I gave the reserves an opportuniy to play. It was a good game and I am happy with our performance,” said Terengganu team manager, Mohd Zailani Arifin.
Results – Group A: Kedah 1 Kelantan 0; Sabah 0 Briged Utara 0 (Sabah win 2-1 in penalties).
Group B: Briged Tenggara 4 Negeri Sembilan 1; Terengganu 3 Melaka 3 (Terengganu win 2-1 in penalties).
POOL STANDINGS
GROUP A
P W D L F A Pts
SABAH 3 3 0 0 5 1 8
BRIGED UTARA 3 1 0 2 4 3 5
KEDAH 3 2 0 1 3 3 5
KELANTAN 3 0 0 3 2 7 0
GROUP B
P W D L F A PTS
TERENGGANU 4 4 0 0 11 6 11
BRIGED TENGGARA 4 3 0 1 9 6 9
N. SEMBILAN 4 2 0 2 4 8 6
MELAKA 4 1 0 3 6 9 4
PERLIS 4 0 0 4 4 9 0
