Negri Sembilan on a roll

SELANGOR and Malacca registered convincing wins
in the National Under-16 tournament yesterday and
are set for an explosive Group A encounter at the
KLHA Stadium today.
Pahang were at the receiving end of the
onslaught by Selangor who hammered the east
coast side 7-1 while Malacca were equally clinical
in their 3-1 win over Johor.
With defending champions Kuala Lumpur, who
defeated Police 9-0, also in Group A, Selangor and
Malacca play in a do-or-die when they clash today.
Selangor coach Wan Samsuri realises that even
after three wins, the match against Malacca could
well determine their fate in the tournament.
“It is a three way battle between Selangor, KL and
Malacca for the two semi-finals slots from our
group. That is why we can't afford to lose against
Malacca,” said Wan Samsuri.
“Having eight players from last year’s team helps
as we did not have more then a week’s preparation
for the tournament this time. And after the
relatively poor performance against Sabah in our
opening match, we have been improving.
“Our initial target is making the semis and from
there it will be an open affair as I do not see vast
difference in standards amongst the teams here.”
Selangor is represented mostly by players from
SMK Seksyen 11 Shah Alam and the Bukit Jalil
Sports School. And they showed why they were a
team to be feared as they completely demolished
Pahang.
MohamedNoor Khairul scored a hattrick with
goals in the 5th, 12th and 45th minutes with the
other goals ccoming from Haikal Zamri (13th),
Nazirul Mubin (24th, 44th) and Qamarul Afiq Azny
(56th). Pahang’s consolation was scored by Khairul
Amri Talha in the 32nd minute.
Malacca were in a class of their own in their
match against Johor and took the lead in the sixth
minute via skipper Firdaus Omar. But Johor were on
levels terms when Safeed Roslan found the back of
the net in the 24th minute.
Goals from Mohd Firdaus (39th) and Nur Alif Aiman
(53rd) gave Malacca the three points.

GROUP A
P W D L F A Pts
SELANGOR 3 3 0 0 14 3 9
K LUMPUR 2 2 0 0 14 0 6
MALACCA 2 2 0 0 7 2 6
JOHOR 3 0 2 1 4 6 2
PAHANG 3 0 1 2 4 13 1
POLICE 3 0 1 2 2 15 1
SABAH 2 0 0 2 1 7 0

GROUP B
P W D L F A Pts
N SEMBILAN 3 3 0 0 15 3 9
PERAK 3 3 0 0 14 3 9
KELANTAN 3 3 0 0 11 1 9
KEDAH 3 1 1 1 6 6 4
TERENGGANU 3 1 0 2 10 10 3
PENANG 3 0 1 2 4 11 1
PERLIS 3 0 0 3 1 10 0
SINGAPORE 3 0 0 3 2 19 0

RESULTS: Group A: Selangor 7 Pahang 1, Johor 1
Malacca 3, Kuala Lumpur 9 Police 0.
Group B: Singapore 1 Terengganu 7, Perak 2
Penang 0, Negri Sembilan 3 Perlis 0, Kedah 0
Kelantan 4.
TODAY: Group A -- Kuala Lumpur v Pahang (5pm),
Slangor v Malacca (6.30pm), Police v Sabah (8pm).
Group B: N. Sembilan v Kelantan (7.30am), Perak v
Perlis (Ministry of Education, 8.30am), Kedah v
Terengganu (9am), Penang v Singapore (3.30pm).
# All other matches at the KLHA stadium.

SAPURA-KLHC final

RESULTS: Semi-finals second leg:
Tenaga Nasional 0 Sapura 2
(Sapura win on 4-2 aggregate)
Yayasan Negri Sembilan 2 Kuala Lumpur Hockey
Club 4
(KLHC win on 6-3 aggregate)


SAPURA'S Pakistan import Rehan Butt delivered a
brace to beat Tenaga Nasional 2-0 and take his
team into the final of the TNB Cup on Saturday on
4-2 aggregate.
In the other semi-finals, Kuala Lumpur Hockey
Club (KLHC) made sure with deft touches to
outclass Yayasan Negri Sembilan (YNS) 4-2 for a 6-3
aggregate win, and keep their hope of a double
alive.
Sapura had the upper hand for 30 minutes, but
were in deep trouble in the last five minutes as
Tenaga Nasional won four consecutive penalty
corners.
However, there was a slight commotion after
Tenaga were awarded the third penalty corner in
the 33rd minute.
Sapura's S. Kuhan called for a walk-out, as he was
unhappy with the call as he felt Tenaga's Faizal
Saari took a dive.
Sapura players were coaxed to return to the
match after a few minutes, and they dedended both
the ensuing penalty corners and the score remained
0-0 into the breather.
But the tempo completely changed in the second
half, as Sapura again went on the offensive and
their Pakistan import Rehan Butt nailed the lead off
a swift field attempt in the 36th minute.
Tenaga made a concerted effort to score the
eqauliser and came within a whisker when they
were awarded a penalty stroke in the 58th minute
after a botched penalty corner attempt.
Faizal Saari stepped up to the spot, but flicked
straignt towards Sapura goalkeeper David James
and they lost a golden opportunity.
And with eight minutes remaining, Rehan again
delivered with a deft touch to take Sapura into the
final.
"My players were warriors, as they came back
from two goals down to hold Tenaga 2-2 in the first
leg. And then, they played their hearts out to win
the second leg.
"I feel really proud of them, as they raised their
game and avoided a disaster by keeping their heads
cool. Now, we are looking forward to win the
Overall title which we last did in 2006," said Sapura
coach I. Vickneswaran.
In the second semi-finals, YNS gave away too
much possession in the first half and were punished
dearly.
Tengku Ahmad Tajuddin scored in the second
minute, and Kelvinder Singh made it 2-0 in the 22nd
minute.
Tengku was again on target in the 32nd minute to
make it 3-0, before Redza Maadun pulled one back
for YNS.
However, Ahmad Anuar Sham delivered another
blow to YNS in the 45th minute off a deflection, and
the match was all over, even though Shakeel Abbasi
scored YNS' second goal in the 67th minute.
March 19: Final -- Sapura v Kuala Lumpur Hockey
Club (Tun Razak Stadium, 8.30pm); Third-Fourth:
Tenaga Nasional v Yayasan Negri Sembilan (Tun
Razak Stadium, 6.00pm).

No advantage for any

CHARITY Shield holders Tenaga Nasional and League champions Kuala Lumpur Hockey Club (KLHC) have only themselves to blame for a poor show in the first leg of the TNB Cup at the Tun Razak Stadium on Friday.
Tenaga took a 2-0 lead before releasing the grip to allow Sapura to draw level, while KLHC came had to come from behind to secure a slim 2-1 win against Yayasan Negri Sembilan.
And today, all four teams will take to the field again, and there is no advantage for any from the first leg.
YNS Pakistan import Shakeel Abbasi, who played a pivotal role to deny Malaysia a gold medal in the Asian Games, was disappointed with his side's first leg performance.
"We had more than enough chances to beat KLHC, but did not take it. Now we will have to play another gruelling match, and by my reading, we might just upset the formbook," said Shakeel.
YNS finished fifth in the League, while KLHC were the champions. The score in the league highly favoured KLHC as they beat Yayasan 6-3 and 7-2.
"We have a good set of foreign players (nine of them) and our Malaysian players are not the best in the country, but still, they played their hearts out and that is what matters in a team sport," said Shakeel.
KLHC have the lion's share of current and former internationals, as well as Junior World Cup players, but they were a jaded side in the first half.
In the other semi-finals, Sapura are quietly confident that they will play in the final.
"It is back to square one as both sides have no advantage after the first encounter. I feel my players are game to give another rousing performance, as only 70 minutes separate us from the final," said Sapura coach I. Vickneswaran.
Redzuan Ponirin, a former international, will sit out the second leg after picking up a card on Friday and Sapura will miss the work-horse for sure.
But Tenaga have a bigger problem at hand, as their No 1 Penalty corner flicker Amin Rahim will not be able to play for at least another six weeks.
"I tore a tendon, and can hardly walk. The MHL season is over for me, and hopefully I recover in time to play in the Azlan Shah Cup (May 5-15)," lamented Amin Rahim.
Amin's absence is a boon for Junior World Cup eight-goal scorer Faizal Saari. Faizal, who scored the first Tenaga goal against Sapura, will get another chance to consolidate his position as the No 3 penalty corner flicker for Malaysia.
The No 2 is Radzi Rahim, who has been an asset to KLHC in the League.
TODAY: Tenaga Nasional (2) v Sapura (2) (Tun Razak Stadium, 6pm), Yayasan Negri Sembilan (1) v Kuala Lumpur Hockey Club (2) (Tun Razak Stadium, 8pm).
# First leg scores in parenthesis.

Negri Under-16 on fire

NEGRI Sembilan were in super form to hammer
Penang 7-2 in Group B of the National Under-16
tournament in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.
This was their second high-scoring win, as they
beat Singapore 5-1 on Friday and are now among
the favourites to progress to the knock-our stage.
Negri have deadly goal-scorer in Ikhwan Ishak to
thank, as he scored a hattrick against Penang, to
add to his four goals against Singapore.
Negri opened accounts in the third minute off
Ikwan but two strikes in the fifth and 10th minutes
by Izaidi Ismail and Faridzul Izwan respectively gave
Penang a 2-1 lead.
However, Negri levelled the score when Norhafizi
Aris struck in the 15th minute.
Penang keeper Rafiuddin Dahari kept the Negri
forwards at bay with a string of saves, but he was
soundly beaten when Shabariq Shamsuri scored in
the 48th minute.
And Negri scored at will in the last ten minutes,
off Fakhrul Razi Kunyapu (60th), Ikwan (62nd, 64th)
and Norhafizi (69th).
Kelantan were also impressive in their 4-0
demolition of Terengganu in Group B with skipper
Aminuddin Zain scoring a brace in the 35th and 59th
minutes.
Safami Sayuti (46th) and Zikrillah Alias (55th)
were also on target as Kelantan also notched up
their second successive win, having beaten Perlis
3-1 on Friday.

STANDINGS
GROUP A
P W D L F A Pts
SELANGOR 2 2 0 0 7 2 6
K LUMPUR 1 1 0 0 5 0 3
MALACCA 1 1 0 0 4 1 3
JOHOR 2 0 2 0 3 3 2
PAHANG 2 0 1 1 3 6 1
POLICE 2 0 1 1 2 6 1
SABAH 2 0 0 2 1 7 0


GROUP B
P W D L F A Pts
N SEMBILAN 2 2 0 0 12 3 6
PERAK 2 2 0 0 12 3 6
KELANTAN 2 2 0 0 7 1 6
KEDAH 2 1 1 0 6 2 4
PENANG 2 0 1 1 4 9 1
TERENGGANU 2 0 0 2 3 9 0
PERLIS 2 0 0 2 1 7 0
SINGAPORE 2 0 0 2 1 12 0

RESULTS: Group A -- Selangor 5 Police 1, Johor 2
Pahang 2, Kuala Lumpur 5 Sabah 0.
Group B -- Negri Sembilan 7 Penang 2, Kedah 4
Perlis 0, Kelantan 4 Terengganu 0, Perak 7
Singapore 0.
TODAY: Group A: Selangor v Pahang (7.30am),
Johor v Malacca (Ministry of Education, 8.30pm),
Kuala Lumpur v Police (9am).
Group B: Singapore v Terengganu (15.30pm), Perak
v Penang (5pm), Negri Sembilan v Perlis (6.30pm),
Kedah v Kelantan (8pm).

KLHC sweat for slim advantage

LEAGUE champions Kuala Lumpur Hockey Club (KLHC) almost paid the price for a scrappy start when they could only beat Yayasan Negri Sembilan (YNS) 2-1 in the first leg semi-final of the TNB Cup at the Tun Razak Stadium yesterday.
In the other semi-finals, Charity Shield holders Tenaga Nasional drew 2-2 with Sapura in a highly charged match.
KLHC, who had beaten YNS 6-3 and 7-2 in the League, were a jaded side in the semi-finals, and only started playing after Waqas Sharif, a Pakistan import, scored in the 14th minute.
YNS could have increased the lead a few minutes later when Deepak Thakur and Waqas had only KLHC goalkeeper Khairulnizam Ibrahim to beat, but they failed to click and the ball rolled out tamely.
Former national player Ismail Abu saved the blushes for KLHC when he levelled the score off a field attempt in the 27th minute, and then scored the winner in the 43rd minute.
However, a one-goal cushion is no advantage to KLHC, when both the teams square off again in the return leg on Sunday.
YNS played without former India international Prabhjot Singh, who returned home as his wife is due to deliver a baby, and he is not expected to return for the second leg as well.
"I won't call it a slow start, just that we made too many mistakes in midfield and almost paid the price.
"YNS have shown that they are capable of raising their game, and a one-goal cushion is not enough, but still, we are in the lead," said KLHC coach K. Dharmaraj.
YNS coach Hasnizam Ah Sim said they are still in the running, but should have sealed the match yesterday.
"It was a good start, but a bad finish as my players were eager to score the equaliser in the last 10 minutes of the match and almost let in the third goal.
"However, we still have a fighting chance to play in the final," said Hasnizam.
Meanwhile, Tenaga took their chances well, while Sapura missed numerous sitters in a highly entertaining match.
Faizal Saari got his chance, after national No 1 penalty corner flicker Amin Rahim was sidelined by injury, to hand Tenaga a well deserved lead off a penalty corner attempt in the 13th minute.
Sapura practically camped in Tenaga's circle after that, but brilliant saves from goalkeeper S. Kumar denied them the equaliser.
And in the 54th minute, Faiz Helmi nailed the second goal for Tenaga, but Azreen Rizal pulled one back in the 64th minute for Sapura.
And in the 67th minute, Rodhanizam Radzi scored off a penalty corner rebound to level the score at 2-2, and Tenaga will have to bring out another super show to deny Sapura a spot in the final in the return leg tomorrow.
RESULTS -- Semi-finals (first leg): Kuala Lumpur Hockey Club 2 Yayasan Negri Sembilan 1, Sapura 2 Tenaga Nasional 2.
TOMORROW: Tenaga Nasional v Sapura (Tun Razak Stadium, 6pm), Yayasan Negri Sembilan v Kuala Lumpur Hockey Club (Tun Razak Stadium, 8pm).