Terengganu and Police setup mouthwatering finale

KUALA LUMPUR, (27th May, 2016): Terengganu will meet Police in the final of the 2016 TNB Tun Abdul Razak Cup after the East Coast side cruised to a 4-0 win over Malacca while the Boys in Blue defeated Perak 3-0 in their Division One semi-final matches at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil on Friday.

Malacca and Perak will meet to decide third and fourth in the division.

Police went ahead in the 48th minute through a Kamarudin Mohd Latif tap in and got their second four minutes later through Faizal Reza Mohd Noor. Nabil Fiqri Mohd Noor rounded up the scoring in the 56th minute also from a field goal.

In the earlier match, Terengganu’s Faizal Saari was the hero for the East Coast side after netting two wonderful field goals that showcased the striker’s remarkable talent and composure in front of goal.

He opened the scoring in the third minute and then played feeder in the 25th minute to Muhd Akhimullah Anuar Esook as Sarjit Singh’s boys took control of the match.

Faizal netted his second seven minutes later while Muhd Firhan Ashari rounded up the scoring at the hour mark to make it 4-0.

Malacca had several opportunities to get back into the match in both halves, but their lack of a potent flicker cost them dearly.

Sarjit, who was the former national coach, was glad his players executed his game plans perfectly.

“Malacca are a fast side and they will punish you on the counter.

“So I told my boys to sit back and slowdown the game, let them come at us and they did that very well,” added Sarjit who singled out 16-year-old Muhd Akhimullah for praise.

Terengganu’s performance in the tournament was a major improvement from their seventh place finish last year and the coach was happy with the improvement of the team.

“We have 13 players here who are from the Sukma squad and they are performing. So that is very good for us,” said Sarjit who has a full squad to choose from for the final on Sunday.

In the Men’s Division Two semi-finals Penang thumped Kelantan 7-3 while Perlis beat Armed Forces 4-1.

Penang will meet Perlis in the final while Kelantan and Armed Forces will battle it out for third and fourth place on Sunday.

In women’s Group X, Kuala Lumpur hammered Melaka 5-1 to move to the top while Armed Forces thrashed Perak 6-2 to lead Group Y. Group M saw Terengganu beat Sarawak 3-0 to go top and Johor edged Sabah 3-1 for second spot in Group N on three points, the same as leaders Penang.

RESULTS – May 27, (FRIDAY)
Men’s Division One – Semi-finals: Malacca 0 Terengganu 4; Perak 0 Police 3.
Men’s Division Two – Semi-finals: Penang 7 Kelantan 3; Armed Forces 1 Perlis 4; 7th-8th Placing: Sarawak 2 Kedah 4; 5th-6th Placing: Selangor 8 Sabah 2.
Women’s Round Two – Group X: Kuala Lumpur 5 Malacca 1; Group Y: Armed Forces 6 Perak 2; Group M: Sarawak 0 Terengganu 3; Group N: Sabah 1 Johor 3.

FIXTURES – May 28, (SATURDAY)
Men’s Division One – 3rd-4th: Malacca v Perak (8pm, Pitch 2); 5th-6th Placing: Negeri Sembilan v Kuala Lumpur (6pm, Pitch 2); 7th-8th Placing: Pahang v Johor (6pm, Pitch 1);
Men’s Division Two – 3rd-4th: Kelantan v Armed Forces (8pm, Pitch 1).

Women’s Round Two – Group X: Malacca v Pahang (7.30am, Pitch 1); Group Y: Perak v Selangor (7.30am, Pitch 2); Group M: Terengganu v Malacca (9.30am, Pitch 1); Group N:  Johor v Penang (9.30am, Pitch 2).

All Matches at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil.