UniKL zap Thunderbolt!

UNIKL shocked favourites Bandar Penawar Sports School Thunderbolt 2-1
to be crowned the MHF-Milo-NSC Junior Hockey League Overall
champions at the Tun Razak Stadium yesterday.
Runners-up in the league, UniKL showed great composure to wait for
the right moments to mount counter attacks, and it was their second giant
killing feat after beating Bukit Jalil Sports School in the semi-finals.
UniKL received RM20,000 while runners-up Thunderbolt RM10,000.
"It was a super display from my players, and a coach can't ask for more
from his players who finished runners-up in the League and Overall
champions in their first JHL season itselt," said UniKL coach I.
Vickneswaran.
Thunderbolt coach Wan Roslan Rahman was disappointed with the
outcome: "We missed too many sitters and paid the price for it. However,
overall, it has been the most successful season for us."
The first half turned out to be a drab affair, with both sides missing
sitters and play was concentrated in the midfield.
Thunderbolt won two penalty corners, but both were wasted when the
stopper failed to make a dead stop, and the second one cost them a goal.
It was in the 31st minute, and Thunderbolt's bothced penalty corner was
turned into a counter attack by UniKL players, and Amir Farid tucked in
the ball from close range and then held onto the lead until the breather.
Thunderbolt were the more agressive side after the breather, and in the
41st minute, a penalty corner was turned into a penalty stroke after it hit a
defender's body.
National senior team player Faizal Saari stepped up to the spot and beat
goalkeeper Shahrul Azadin to throw a life-line to the League champions.
Thunderbolt took control of the match after that and had plenty of
chances to seal the match, but a diving Faizal and bungling forwards saw
the score remain tied.
However UniKL, who were contended with defending, finally mounted a
serious attack in the 61st minute, and Aminuddin Abu gave them the lead
again with a field attempt.
And the JHL newcomers played gallantly after that to hold onto the lead,
and become the Overall champions in their first attempt itself.
Meanwhile, in the bronze medal decider, Bukit Jalil Sports School
(BJSS) beat Petaling Jaya City Council (PJCC) with goals from Ahmad
Termidzi (11th, 45th), Fahed Saifulah (51st), Kavin Kartik (64th), and
Faridzul Afiq (67th).
The PJCC goal were scored by Hafiz Nawi in the 59th minute.
BJSS received RM7,000, while PJCC took home RM5,000 for finishing
fourth.
ROLL-OF-HONOUR: Best player of the Tournament: Firhan Ashaari
(Thunderbolt); Best Player of the Final: Aminuddin Abu (UniKL); Best
Goalkeepeer: Hazrul Faiz (BJSS); Top Scorer: Faizal Saari (Thunderbolt,
16 goals); Fairplay: Kelantan.
FINAL: Bandar Penawar Sports School Thunderbolt 1 UniKL 2; Third-
Fourth: Petaling Jaya City Council 1 Bukit Jalil Sports School 5.

Thunderbolt set to strike second time

UNIKL supporters at the KLHA Stadium.

JUNIOR Hockey League newcomers UniKL know what it feels like to finish second best, and that is why their players are not ready for to preform an encore in the Overall title fight at the Tun Razak Stadium today.
UniKL were were leading 1-0, and were 30 seconds from lifting the League title, when Bandar Penawar Sports School Thunderbolt dashed their dream by scoring the equaliser, and snatching the trophy on a better goals average.
Today, both the teams will lock horns again in what is expected to be a thriller finale to the Under-19 league.
“Playing in the semi-finals was an achievement for this new outfit, but my boys rose to the challenge and beat one sports school (Bukit Jalil), and now I expect to face a tougher time against another sports school.
“The route has not been easy, but the reward that awaits us is worth fighting for until the last minute,” said UniKL coach I. Vickneswaran.
Thunderbolt have the first-11 from the 2013 Junior World Cup training squad, as well as national seniors striker Faizal Saari to bank on, while UniKL will rely on the 2013 reserves today.
Thunderbolt coach Wan Roslan Rahman felt that they were lucky in the League, but can’t depend on another hand-out.
“We have some of the best juniors in the country, no doubt about it, but luck also played a great part in our success so far.
“We were lucky to score the equaliser 30 seconds from time for the League title, and then lucky that my players woke up in time to beat PJCC (Petaling Jaya City Council) 5-3 in the semi-finals.
“However, I hope my players have learnt their lessons well, and show their true potential in the first half and not leave matters to the last minute,” said Wan Roslan.
In the bronze playoff, Petaling Jaya City Council were slapped with a huge handicap as four of their players were banned from playing against Bukit Jalil Sports School Juniors.
PJCC goalkeeper Ahmad Syahir will sit out for man handling umpire Rosdi Pilus in the semi-finals, and he will also face the Disciplinary Board.
Three of his team mates, Shaharul Dennis Ruslan, Rashid Baharom and Fahmi Ashari, were handed one match suspension for abusing the umpires and technical officials after the final whistle of the ill tempered semis.
TODAY: Final -- Bandar Penawar Sports School Thun derbolt v UniKL (Tun Razak Stadium, 5.30pm); Third-Fourth: Petaling Jaya City Council v Bukit Jalil Sports School (Tun Razak Stadium, 3.30pm).

Thunderbolt-UniKL final

LEAGUE champions Bandar Penawar Sports School Thunderbolt came back from the dead before they beat Petaling Jaya City Council 5-3 in a highly charged MHF-Milo-NSC Junor Hockey League semi-final yesterday.
In the other semi-finals, UniKL beat Bukit Jalil Sports School 2-1 and will play Thunderbolt for the Overall title tomorrow.
Thunderbolt were leading 3-1 by the 48th minute, but lost their composure when PJCC scored two quick goals to equalise.
However, the comeback was marred when PJCC goalkeeper Ahmad Syahir ran towards umpire Rosdi Pilus and manhandled him in the 65th minute, prompting the umpire to flash the red card.
Ahmad had to be restrained by his own players and was escorted out of the pitch, and PJCC lost their scipt and then the match.
PJCC took the lead in the 13th minute through a Hafiz Nawi, but Thunderbolt equalised through Noor Faeez Ibrahim six minutes later through a penalty corner attempt.
Faeez gave his team the lead on the stroke of halftime via another
penalty corner.
Firhan Ashari then made it 3-1 for Thunderbolt in the 48th minute and the sports school thought they had the match in grips.
But PJCC fought back strongly after Rifan Azhar scored twice in as
many minutes, in the 50th and 52nd, to make in 3-3.
But after the red card, PJCC collapsed and, Faeez gave Thunderbolt the lead once again in the 61st minute before Fitri Saari made sure his team plays in the final by scoring the fifth in the 67th minute.
"It was the most difficult match for us since the JHL started and I congratulate PJCC players who were highly charged and committed. However, the red card marred the match and after that, I had to restrain some of my players and also PJCC players who wanted to have a go near the dresing room.
"But no untoward incident happened because cool heads prevailed, and now we are looking forward to winning the double on Sunday," said Thunderbolt coach Wan Roslan Rahman.
In the other semis, UniKL took the lead of Syamim Yusof in the 10th minute, only to see BJSS equalise through Faridzul Afiq in the 20th minute and the score remained till the breather.
However, a strike from Zulhairi Hashim in the 44th minute was enough to take UniKL into the final, and they could even afford to miss a penalty stroke in the 56th minute.
RESULTS: Semi-finals -- Bandar Penawar Sports School Thunderbolt 5 Petaling Jaya City Council 3; Bukit Jalil Sports School 1 UniKL 2.
TOMORROW: Final -- Bandar Penawar Sports School Thunderbolt v UniKL (Tun Razak Stadium, 5.30pm); Third-Fourth: Petaling Jaya City Council v Bukit Jalil Sports School (Tun Razak Stadium, 3.30pm).

PJCC advance on sudden-death goal

Petaling Jaya City Council’s Mohd Fahmi Faiz Mad Isa scores a goal past the BPSS goalkeeper in the quarter-final of the MHF-Milo-NSC Junior League at the Tun Razak Stadium yesterday. — Picture by Mohd Yusni Ariffin

PETALING Jaya City Council nailed a sudden-death goal, after being tied 2 -2, against Bandar Penawar Sports School Juniors to book their spot in the semi-finals of the MHF-Milo-NSC Junor Hockey League.
PJCC had the match in hand when they took a 2-0 lead, but crumbled in the second half by allowing BPSS Juniors to score the equaliser three seconds from time at the Tun Razak Stadium.
PJCC will meet Bandar Penawar Sports School Thunderbolt, while Bukit Jalil Sports School will play UniKL in the semi-finals today at the Tun Razak Stadium.
"My forwards have been consistently bungling sitters since the JHL started and today (yesterday) was no different. However, I saw a slight change in my players as they were more determined to win this match and advance to the last four, and now we can only hope for an upset against BPSS," said PJCC assistant team manager Zanal Abidin.
In the League BPSS easily beat PJCC 4-1, and the sports school should have the upper hand today.
Yesterday PJCC took a healthy lead through Fahmi Faiz in the 40th and Hafiz Nawi in the 41st minute.
However, the allowed the schoolboys to get back into the match when Firhan Ashaari scored from a penalty corner attempt in the 57th minute.
BPSS Juniors won a penalty corner with a minute left in the match, and just as Firhan's flick went crashing into the net, the full-time hooter blew and the match went into sudden-death.
PJCC won three consecutive penalty corner before nailing the winner when Fahmi delivered yet again in the 82nd minute.
Thunderbolt coach Wan Roslan Rahman said since there is no return leg, nothing can be taken for granted until the final whistle.
"The fact that we beat PJCC in the league is no longer relevant as this is a one-off match where my players will have to make the least mistakes to make sure we play in the final and have a chance to land the double this season," said Roslan.
RESULTS: Quarter-finals: Bandar Penawar Sports School Juniors 2 Petaling Jaya City Council 3 (PJCC win on sudden-death goal).
TODAY: Semi-finals: BPSS Thunderbolt v PJCC (Tun Razak 4pm); UniKL v BJSS (Tun Razak, 6pm).

UniKL v BJSS on level field

LAST season's double champions Bukit Jalil Sports School (BJSS) will get
a second chance to salvage some pride when thy square off against UniKL
in the semi-finals of the MHF-Milo-NSC Junior Hockey League on Friday.
The other semi-final will be between Bandar Penawar Sports School
Thunderbolt and the winners of the delayed quarter-finals between Bandar Penawar Sports School Juniors and Petaling Jaya City Council today.
The fixtures were re-drawn to acommodate BPSS Juniors as six of their
players only returned last night from a German Under-16 Four-Nation
where Malaysia finished second.
BJSS, who beat Sabah 4-0 even without four Under-16 boys who were in
Germany, will start on level terms against UniKL as in the League
encounter, the score was 1-1.
"Four of my under-16 boys played in Germany and only returned today
(yesterday) and it would strenghten the team when we play UniKL in the
semis.
"In the last eight against Sabah, I had to use some of my reserve
defenders as forwards, and were lucky as Kavin (Kartik) scored a penalty
corner hat-trick," said BJSS coach S. Prakash.
UniKL hold a slight psychological edge, as they finished second in the
league, while BJSS were third.
UniKL coach I. Vickneswaran, whose boys struggled against Division
Two outfit Pahang before winning 4-2 in the quarters, feels they will be in
for a bumpy ride in their quest to lay in the final.
"We had to come from a goal down to force a draw in the League, and I
expect another tough battle on Friday as BJSS players have been training
together for a long time and have a better understanding than my players
who only had one months training before they played in their first JHL
match," said Vickneswaran.
TODAY: Quarter-finals: Bandar Penawar Sports School Juniors v
Petaling Jaya City Council (Tun Razak, 4pm).
FRIDAY: Semi-finals: BPSS Thunderbolt v BPSS Juniors or PJCC (Tun
Razak 4pm); UniKL v BJSS (Tun Razak, 6pm).