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Pic: KLHC's Harvinder Singh making an attempt against Sapura in Kuantan.
DEFENDING champions Kuala Lumpur Hockey Club (KLHC) were made to sweat before edging Sapura 3-2 in the Premier Division of the Malaysia Hockey League at the Kuantan Stadium yesterday.
KLHC completed the first round with only one blemish, a 3-3 draw against Tenaga Nasional, and look good to break free in the second round starting this Friday.
KLHC coach K. Dharmaraj said it was an important win, as they will start the second round against Sapura again.
“We let in a goal and had to chase back for the win which resulted in unnecessary pressure in the last 10 minutes of the match. However, I am happy that we did not drop points in this match, as we will be playing against Sapura again on Friday in the second leg.
“It was an important win, as I did not want to give Sapura an edge going into Friday,” said Dharmaraj.
KLHC were given a scare in the sixth minute when Azrul Hasbullah connected a reverse stick cross to hand Sapura the lead, but Pakistan import Muhammad Imran put them level off a 35th minute penalty corner.
And two quick goals by Imran in the 48th minute and Chua Boon Huat in the 54th minute gave KLHC some breathing space.
Sapura’s Khasif Ali converted a penalty corner in the 60th minute to reduce the margin, but could not capitalise on two penalty more penalty corners they won in the 64th and 65th minutes.
As for UniKL, they finally won their second match in mid-season when Noor Faeez Ibrahim delivered a hat-trick in the 18th, 22nd and 67th minutes. The Terengganu goal was scored by Jivan Mohan in the 40th minute.
“It was a fantastic performance and I am really proud of my players. They never gave our opponents much space, and we hope to build on this in the second round,” said UniKL coach Arul Selvaraj.
RESULTS: Premier Division -- Sapura 2 KLHC 3, Terengganu 1 UniKL 3, Tenaga x Maybank x.
Note: Matches at Pitch I and II of the Kuantan Hockey Stadium.
STANDINGS
PREMIER DIVISION
P W D L F A Pts
KLHC 6 5 1 0 27 8 16
Maybank 5 4 0 1 20 12 12
TNB 5 2 3 0 18 11 9
Sapura 6 2 2 2 15 14 8
UniKL 6 2 0 4 9 18 6
Tgganu 6 1 1 4 13 19 4
N Insafi 6 0 1 5 6 26 1
KARACHI: Pakistan continued their superb run
in the new five-a-side U16 Asia Cup as they marched into the final
where they will face Bangladesh for the title in Singapore on Sunday.
The tournament favourites defeated Malaysia 6-0 in their
semi-final yesterday as Mohammad Atiq, who has enjoyed a goal spree,
netted a brace in the rout. Sikandar Mustufa, Nohaiz Zahid Malik, Shan
Irshad and Junaid Manzoor scored one goal apiece.
Before their
last-four tie, Sri Lanka had received a mauling at the hands of
Pakistan, who went rampant in a 12-3 victory in their last group game.
Earlier,
coach Tahir Zaman had been uncertain about the team’s performance in
the event even though he stressed that they had trained hard. However,
all nerves were settled down when Pakistan got off to a flying start,
smashing 16 goals against a hapless Chinese Taipei outfit in their
tournament opener to register a 16-1 win.
In another match, Pakistan saw off the challenge from Japan to register a 7-4 win.
As
many as 10 teams featured in the competition, with Pakistan being
placed with Japan, China, Sri Lanka and Chinese Taipei in Pool A, while
the other group featured Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Bangladesh and
Kazakhstan.
The Express Tribune
TENAGA Nasional geared up for their crucial match against Maybank today with a 5-0 demolition of Nur Insafi at the Kuantan Stadium.
In the only Premier Division match of the day, the score could have been into the double digits if not for some super saves from Nur Insafi goalkeeper Nasir Ahmad.
However, Tenaga did enough to secure the three points, which elevated them to the third spot on the standings, and prime themselves for an attempt to tame the Tigers and move to second.
Tenaga scored their first in the 10th minute when Amir Farid Fuzi broke free in the centre and slipped the ball past Nur Insafi custodian Nasir Ahmad.
Faisal Saari then perfected his drag flick in the 18th minute penalty corner as he sent in a sizzler crashing into the back of the goal-mouth.
Former international Amin Rahim then scored the third in the 20th minute, also off a penalty corner attempt, to take a 3-0 lead into the breather.
With their crucial match against Maybank today at the back of their mind, Tenaga slowed the pace after the breather but still Sallehin Ghani (58th) and Aminuddin Zain (66th) completed the goal-count.
Meanwhile, the battle continues at the blue pitch in Kuantan today, with a high-stakes roll in the Kuala Lumpur Hockey Club (KLHC) and Sapura encounter.
Double champions KLHC can’t afford to drop any points in their last Round One match if they want to keep their grip in the Premier Division.
While Sapura, whose only blemish is a 3-5 defeat in the hands of Maybank, have started to look dangerous as their foreign signings finally find their form.
“It will not be an easy match, but I am confident my players would not disappoint as we aim to end Round One with three points.
“This is vital, as the nearest rival (Maybank) is just a point adrift, and we can’t allow any silp-ups at this crucial stage to defend our League title,” said KLHC team manager George Koshy.
Maybank will also be involved in a cruncher, as they play a wounded Tenaga Nasional who have been playing below par even though they have a sterling cast to depend on.
RESULT: Premier Division -- Nur Insafi 0 TNB 5.
SUNDAY: Premier Division -- Sapura v KLHC (6pm), Terengganu v UniKL (6pm), Tenaga v Maybank (8pm).
Note: Matches at Pitch I and II of the Kuantan Hockey Stadium.
STANDINGS
PREMIER DIVISION
P W D L F A Pts
KLHC 5 4 1 0 24 6 13
Maybank 5 4 0 1 20 12 12
TNB 5 2 3 0 18 11 9
Sapura 5 2 2 1 13 11 8
Tgganu 5 1 1 3 12 16 4
UniKL 5 1 0 4 6 17 3
N Insafi 6 0 1 5 6 26 1
DOUBLE champions Kuala Lumpur Hockey Club (KLHC) demolished Terengganu 5-0 to stamp their mark in the Premier Division of the Malaysia Hockey League at the Kuantan Stadium yesterday.
And at the adjacent pitch, Maybank shadowed the leaders with a 6-3 win over Nur Insafi, and only trail by one point.
KLHC were expected to face a tough time against Terengganu, who had pinched six of their players in a signing binge, but it turned out to be a washout.
The defending champions’ Pakistan signings again proved their worth when Muhammad Imran made the ball sing for him in a first minute penalty corner while Muhammad Umar Bhutta made it 2-0 in the 31st minute.
Mohamed Syamim then scores just before the hooter to give KLHC a healthy lead, and a minute into the restart, Umar Bhutta made it 4-0. Pakistan import Akhtar Ali (40th) completed the demolition.
Maybank had a tougher fight in the first half, but two own goals by Nur Insafi players and goals from Zulhairi Hashim (14th), Amirullah Zainol (32nd), Shafqat Rasool (51st), and Muhammad Waqas (58th) saw them win comfortably.
The Nur Insafi goals were scored by Abdul Asim Khan (24th), Imran Muhammad (40th) and Ateeq Muhammad (45th).
“It as a very satisfying win as my players dominated most of the match and never allowed Terengganu to recover after taking the first minute lead.
“We still hold the lead, and after a day’s rest, we will meet Sapura and I believe today’s (yesterday’s) momentum would be carried onto that game as well as we are looking for a win before starting the second round,” said KLHC team manager George Koshy.
RESULTS: Premier Division -- Terengganu 0 KLHC 5, Maybank 6 Nur Insafi 3, Sapura 3 UniKL 1.
Today: Nur Insafi v TNB (6pm).
Tomorrow: Sapura v KLHC (6pm), Terengganu v UniKL (6pm), Tenaga v Maybank (8pm).
Note: Matches at Pitch I and II of the Kuantan Hockey Stadium.
STANDINGS
PREMIER DIVISION
P W D L F A Pts
KLHC 5 4 1 0 24 6 13
Maybank 5 4 0 1 20 12 12
Sapura 5 2 2 1 13 11 8TNB 4 1 3 0 13 11 6
Tgganu 5 1 1 3 12 16 4
UniKL 5 1 0 4 6 17 3
N Insafi 5 0 1 4 6 21 1
BOYS UNDER-16 Asia Cup (Singapore): Malaysia beat Kazakhstan 13-1 and then lose 3-6 to BANGLADESH....
Bangladesh beat Singapore 7-2, and then hammer Kazakhstan 26-1..
(Note: Its a 5-a-side tournament).
