Tenaga Nasional’s Muhamad Sabri Mohamed (left) tries to stop Malacca’s Muhammad Rashdan Saiful in their quarter-final match at KLHA Stadium yesterday. The teams drew 2-2. — Pic: KHALID REDZATENAGA Nasional were let off the hook by Malacca as both sides drew their Malaysian Hockey League quarter-final second leg 2-2 at the KLHA Stadium yesterday.
Malacca should have won the match in the first half as they were awarded four penalty corners. However, all attempts were fruitless.
Tenaga took the lead in the 56th minute through Faiz Adnan off a penalty corner flick before Malacca leveled the score four minutes later through a Syakir Kamaruddin field attempt.
Amir Aminuddin Abu restored Tenaga's lead in the 63rd minute and it seemed then that victory was theirs.
Tenaga will face Bandar Penawar Sports School (BPSS), who defeated Nur Insafi 9-3 on aggregate.
Tenaga coach Nor Azlan Bakar was not amused with the way his charges' played yesterday.
"I am very unhappy with the boys. They don't know how to defend a lead and the defence is extremely weak. I need to prepare them thoroughly for the semi-finals," said Nor Azlan.
Nor Azlan also played down his team's chances in the semi-finals.
"My players need to improve or face a thrashing. BPSS are the favourites."
In Ipoh, Petaling Jaya City Council (PJCC) easily defeated Anderson 3-0 to win 6-0 on aggregate for a spot in the semi-finals.
Their opponents are Division Two champions Bukit Jalil Sports School (BJSS), who thrashed Temerloh 17-0 on aggregate.
PJCC coach Paul Raj said he will work on new strategies to prepare his players for BJSS.
"BJSS are good but not invincible. They can be beaten provided my boys have a solid game plan," said Paul in Ipoh yesterday.
RESULTS -- Q-final 2nd leg: Temerloh 0 Bukit Jalil Sports School 8 (BJSS win 17-0 on aggregate); Bandar Penawar Sports School 5 Nur Insafi 1 (BPSS win 9-3 on aggregate); Tenaga Nasional 2 Malacca 2 (Tenaga win 5-4 on aggregate); Anderson 0 Petaling Jaya CC 3 (PJ SS win 6-0 on aggregate).
FIXTURES (S-Finals-1st leg)) -- Tomorrow: Tenaga Nasional v Bandar Penawar Sports School (KLHA Stadium, Pantai, 5pm); Bukit Jalil Sports School v Petaling Jaya CC (National Hockey Stadium, Bukit Jalil, 7.30pm).
