Perak, Penang and Perlis storm into semi-finals

KUALA LUMPUR (24th May, 2016): Perak were made to sweat before eventually beating Kuala Lumpur 4-2 in their Division One Group B match to book a semi-final spot in the 2016 TNB Tun Abdul Razak Cup at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil on Tuesday.

In the other group match played, Terengganu and Negeri Sembilan drew 2-2.

Perak lead the group with six points from two matches while Terengganu are second on four points from two matches. Negeri have one point and Kuala Lumpur have no points yet.

Negeri have an outside chance of pipping Terengganu to semi-finals if they beat Kuala Lumpur by a big margin and the East Coast side lose to Perak.

Kuala Lumpur opened the scoring in the 23rd minute through Mohamad Syamim Mohd Yusof’s field goal but Perak drew level six minutes later when Muhammad Haziq Samsul slammed home a penalty corner.

Syed Mohamad Syafiq Syed Cholan put Perak ahead four minutes later from a penalty corner while Mohamad Ashran Hamsani made it 3-1 a minute later from a field goal.

Kuala Lumpur closed the gap in the 54th minute through Nor Hizzat Sumantri but Muhammad Haziq restored the two goal cushion to make it 4-2 at the death.

In Division Two, despite nursing an injury Tengku Ahmad Tajuddin Tg Abd Jalil scored five goals as Perlis hammered neighbours Kedah 6-1 in their Group A match to book their place in the semi-finals.

In the other group match played, Penang beat Selangor 2-0 to finish top on nine points while Perlis finish with six points. Selangor finish third with three points and Kedah are rock bottom.

Group B side Armed Forces trounced Sarawak 12-0 to head the group with six points but with a superior goal difference to Kelantan who beat Sabah 4-1 for second place. The East Coast side are third, also with six points, but with an inferior goal difference. Sarawak bow out without a point.

Group A champs Penang will meet second placed Group B side Kelantan in semi-finals and Group B winners Armed Forces will take on Group A runners-up Perlis on Friday.

Perlis, who faced a must win match, did not pull their punches and went on the offensive from the get go but wasted their early chances to score until Tengku Ahmad’s first goal from a penalty corner in the 19th minute. He then netted his first of four field goals in the 23rd minute before Muhd Azwadi Ridzuan made it 3-0 in the 28th minute.

Tengku Ahmad then bagged his third, fourth and fifth (32nd, 34th, 40th) while Mohd Fahmi Nasir scored for Kedah as Perlis wrapped the match 6-1.

Coach Badrisham Che Yob was all praise for his star man who performed so well despite the injury to his finger, sustained during Perlis’ second match against Selangor.

“He is irreplaceable for us. Most of our players are still young and they look to him for guidance on and off the field, which he delivers.

“Today it was a must win match for us if we wanted to advance and the score line says so much about our team spirit.

“We will stick to our game plan against them (Armed Forces) and if the team play as they did today, it is anyone’s game,” added Badrisham who is looking forward to their semi-final against Armed Forces on Friday.

In woman’s Group A matches played, Selangor did just enough to beat Police 1-0 and Pahang thrashed Sarawak 5-1, while in Group B, Armed Forces hammered Sabah 3-0 while Kuala Lumpur handed Negeri Sembilan a 10-0 whipping.

Selangor leads Group A with 10 points after four matches, Pahang are on seven from three matches while Johor have four and Sarawak one, from the same number of matches. Police have yet to register a point.

Group B sees Armed Forces ahead with nine points from three matches with Kuala Lumpur on six from same number of matches played. Terengganu and Sabah both have four points after three and four matches played respectively. Rock bottom Negeri Sembilan have no points.

RESULTS – May 24th (TUESDAY)
Men’s Division 1 – Group B: Negeri Sembilan 2 Terengganu 2; Kuala Lumpur 2 Perak 4.
Division 2 – Group A: Selangor 0 Penang 2; Kedah 1 Perlis 6; Group B: Kelantan 4 Sabah 1; Sarawak 0 Armed Forces 12.
Women’s Group A: Selangor 1 Police 0; Sarawak 1 Pahang 5; Group B: Sabah 0 Armed Forces 3; Negeri Sembilan 0 Kuala Lumpur 10;

FIXTURES – May 25 2016 (WEDNESDAY)
Men’s Division 1 – Group A: Malacca v Police (6pm, Pitch 1); Pahang v Johor (6pm, Pitch 2); Group B: Perak v Terengganu (8pm, Pitch 1); Negri Sembilan v Kuala Lumpur (8pm, Pitch 2).
Women’s Group A: Pahang v Johor (4pm, Pitch 1); Police v Sarawak (4pm, Pitch 2); Group B: Kuala Lumpur v Terengganu (7.30am, Pitch 1); Armed Forces v Negri Sembilan (7.30am, Pitch 2); Group C: Malacca v Kedah (9.30am, Pitch 1); Perak v Penang (9.30am, Pitch 2).
All Matches at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil.