KUALA LUMPUR, (22nd May, 2016): Terengganu came back from two goals down to secure a 3-2 win over Kuala Lumpur in their opening Division One Group B match at the TNB Razak Cup 2016 at the National Hockey Stadium Pitch 2 in Bukit Jalil on Sunday.
In the other Group B match played, Perak notched a well-deserved 5-2 win over Negeri Sembilan.
Kuala Lumpur raced ahead through a penalty stroke in the eighth minute and doubled their lead in the 17th minute from a penalty corner courtesy of Muhd Shahril Saabah.
Terengganu’s Nik Muhammad Aiman Nik Rozami then scored two quick fire penalty corners in the 21st and 23rd minute to draw level. Mohd Fitri Saari then bagged the winner in the 50th minute.
In Division Two Group A, Perlis survived a late onslaught to upset Selangor 2-1 and Penang beat Kedah 3-2 to go top of the group. Selangor are second on three points while Perlis is third, also on three points. Kedah are fourth.
In women’s Group A action, Sarawak and Johor played out a 3-3 draw while Pahang also drew 3-3 with Selangor. Group B saw Terengganu beat Negeri Sembilan 3-0 and Kuala Lumpur thrashed Sabah 5-0 while in Group C Malacca edged Perak 1-0 and Penang walked away 4-2 winners over Kedah.
Selangor, who beat Kedah 8-0 on Saturday, came to life in the final 15 minutes, but only managed to put away one of the four penalty corners that came their way in the final quarter of the match.
The hard fought win should do wonders for the Perlis team’s confidence as it comes on the back of a 7-3 loss at the hands of Penang in their opening fixture.
Tengku Ahmad Tajuddin Tg Abd Jalil opened the scoring for Perlis in the 15th minute through a field goal while Muhammad Afiq Ishak doubled the score in the 35th minute before Selangor’s Muhd Noor Faez Ibrahim pulled one back in the 59th minute.
Perlis coach Badrisham Che Yob was pleased that his players took the fight to Selangor as a loss would signal an end to their hopes of advancing to the semi-finals.
“I told my boys before the match to go all out, this is do or die because three points today goes a long way especially since we meet Kedah next. Should we win that match as well, we are very likely to advance to the semis.
“We have an ex-national player in Tengku Ahmad and national junior Muhammad Najmi Farizal Jazlan and they led by example today. But it was my junior players from the Sukan Malaysia (Sukma) squad that really deserve the praise,” added Badrisham.
Selangor coach S. Velappan believes his side were over confident after their big win against Kedah.
“I think today my boys were over confident, they didn’t play well against Kedah but still managed to score eight. But Perlis played well.
“Although we had many chances, we didn’t make the most of it and we now face a must win match against Penang”.
Results – May 22 (SUNDAY)
Men’s Division One – Group B: Perak 5 Negeri Sembilan 2; Kuala Lumpur 2 Terengganu 3; Men’s Division Two – Group A: Kedah 2 Penang 3; Selangor 1 Perlis 2.
Women’s Division – Group A: Sarawak 3 Johor 3; Pahang 3 Selangor 3; Group B: Negeri Sembilan 0 Terengganu 10; Kuala Lumpur 5 Sabah 0; Group C: Malacca 1 Perak 0; Penang 4 Kedah 2.
Fixtures – May 23rd (MONDAY)
Men’s Division 2 – Group B: Sarawak v Sabah (6pm, Pitch 1); Kelantan v Armed Forces (6pm, Pitch 2); Division One – Group A: Pahang v PDRM (8pm, Pitch 1); Johor v Malacca (8pm, Pitch 2);
Women’s Group A: Police v Pahang (7.30am, Pitch 1); Johor v Selangor (7.30am, Pitch 2); Group B: Armed Forces v Kuala Lumpur (9.30am, Pitch 1); Terengganu v Sabah (9.30am, Pitch 2); Group C: Perak v Kedah (4pm, Picth 1); Penang v Malacca (4pm, Pitch 2). All Matches at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil.
