KUALA LUMPUR Hockey Club (KLHC) came back from a goal down to edge Maybank 2-1 to keep their grip on the Premier Division of the Malaysia Hockey League (MHL) yesterday.
Playing at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil, Maybank's Pakistan import Muhammad Toseeq scored a field goal in the 36th minute, but the joy was short lived as a minute later, Mohamed Syamim nailed the equaliser.
KLHC were saved the blushes by Pakistan's Ali Shan, who scored a penalty corner rebound in the 42nd minute.
"We went in expecting a tough match and I'm glad that we did not crack when we were trailing but kept pushing for a win," said KLHC coach K. Dharmaraj.
KLHC had beaten Maybank 3-1 in the first round but yesterday's match was a close shave.
"Entering into the second round we should have done much better, and that's the one aspect that I'm not happy with our progress so far. Otherwise, we are doing just enough to challenge for the title," said Dharmaraj.
After six matches, KLHC top the standings on 16 points with five wins and one draw.
Maybank, on the other hand, have yet to win a game: "Even though we have yet to win a point after five matches, I believe the team is improving and we should claim a win against UniKL (Sunday)," said Maybank coach S. Vellapan.
Maybank and UniKL also have yet to complete their first round fixtures which was washed away by rain. That abandoned match will be played on September 2.
RESULTS: Premier Division (Round Two): KLHC 2 Maybank 1, UniKL 0 THT 3, Tenaga 2 Sapura 1.
Division One Group A: BJSS 1 Thunderbolts 3, MSP-YP-SSP 2 MBI 5; Group B: PKS-KPM 4 SSTMI 2, UiTM 1 ATM Airod 1.
Women's Group A: MSNT-PHT 0 Penang Juniors 1; Group B: Manjung 0 SSTMI 4, BJSS 0 Thunderbolts 3.
SATURDAY: Division One: Group A: BJSS v MASUM-USM (Kuantan, 5pm); Group B: PKS-KPM v ATM AIROD (NHS I, 5pm), UITM v NUR INSAFI (NHS II, 7pm).
Women -- Group B: KL-SUKMA v PKS-KPM (KLHA, 8pm).