Olak dent SSP-MSP-Thunderbolt’s title dreams

Pahang Sports School SSP-MSP-Thunderbolt blew their chance at a title shot when they were held to a 3-3 draw by OLAK Tigers in their TNB-Junior Hockey League match in Kuantan yesterday.

Had the Pahang side won the match today, and go on to surprise Tunku Mahkota Sports School (SSTMI) Thunderbolts on Friday, the title race would have gone to the wire as both sides would have been equal on points and matches played. Both teams would still have the advantage of two more matches in hand which would decide the final outcome.

But as it stands now, SSTMI, who are also on a seven-match winning streak, look set to retain their league crown. Even a draw against Pahang Sports School is good enough.

In another match played, Bukit Jalil Sports School (BJSS) defeated Politeknik Malaysia 4-2 at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil.

SSTMI lead the table standings with 21 points after seven matches, Pahang Sports School and UniKL Young Guns share 16 equal points but it’s the Pahang lads have a superior goal advantage. BJSS are fourth with 15 points from seven matches.

Pahang Sports School team manager Wan Mazlan Isa was left to rue the result as the equaliser was scored in the last minute of play.

“It’s an agonising result for us. We had eight penalty corners and only put three away and countless other field efforts were wasted. We came so close only to see OLAK score in the 69th minute. But we have to accept this result and beat SSTMI if we want to finish second,” added Wan Mazlan.

OLAK opened scoring in the sixth minute through a Nur Najibrullah Ramle field goal but Pahang Sports school replied through dragflick specialist Muhd Idris Samad in 19th and 23rd minutes. Muhd Hameran Anuar made it 2-2 in the 28th minute only for Muhd Idris to net his hat-trick from another penalty corner in the 31st minute.

The goals dried up in the second half until Nur Najibrullah popped in the equaliser at the last minute.

At Bukit Jalil, Politeknik opened the scoring in the third minute through Muhd Fakhri Ardillah Saifullah but BJSS levelled two minutes later thanks to Muhd Noor Firdaus Rosdi. They took the lead in the 28th minute through Arif Sabron while Muhd Hafiizhuddin Zaidi made it 3-1 in the 34th minute.

Politeknik’s Muhd Ammirul Hafiz Rashid pulled one back in the 57th minute only for Muhd Noor Firdaus to restore Bukit Jalil’s two-goal cushion with three minutes remaining.

Results – Division One: BJSS Thunderbolt 4 Politeknik Malaysia 2; SSP-MSP-Thunderbolt 3 OLAK Tigers 3.

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