University Kuala Lumpur (UniKL) continued their excellent start to the 2017 Malaysian Hockey League (TNBMHL2017) campaign as they defeated UiTM-KPT 6-2 at the Kuala Lumpur Hockey Stadium today.
It was not all smooth sailing for the Premier division leaders, as UiTM-KPT took a surprise lead in the 8th minute through Steffens Damon Jake’s penalty corner. UniKL’s goalkeeper, Kairul Nizam Ibrahim was helpless as the ball was struck right through his legs.
UniKL got back on level terms in the 22nd minute as Pakistan international, Muhammad Aleem Bilal struck a fierce penalty corner into the roof of UiTM-KPT’s goal.
Muhammad Najmi Farizal then converted a penalty corner of his own to put UniKL in front in the 35th minute before Izwan Firdaus made it 3-1 a minute before the end of the third quarter.
UniKL’s Ignacio Santiago Salas got in the act by scoring a field goal in the 54th minute only for Nazirul Mubin to get UiTM-KPT’s second goal a minute later.
It was 5-2 in the 58th minute as Muhammad Aleem Bilal completed his brace with another clinical penalty corner conversion prior to Muhammad Azrul Hasbullah’s field goal in the last minute to end the match 6-2.
UniKL’s coach Arul Selvaraj admitted that the one day break his players had from Wednesday’s victory over TNB Thunderbolts caused them to start the match sluggishly.
“We approached the first quarter in a laidback manner which caused us to concede early”, he said.
“After the wake up call, my players responded well and took their chances especially our penalty corners, which will increase their confidence going into the match against KLHC this Sunday”, added Arul.
This fourth win in a row keeps UniKL at the top of the league as they will face a tougher challenge on Sunday in the form of third placed Kuala Lumpur Hockey Club (KLHC).
In an earlier match, Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) got their third successive victory after their loss on opening day, as they triumphed 4-0 over hosts Tunku Ismail Sports School (SSTMI) in Johor.
TNB had to wait till the 19th minute to open the scoring through Norshafiq Sumantri’s sweetly struck penalty corner.
Muhammad Shahril Saabah then added a second in the 33rd minute via another penalty corner before Faiz Helmi Jali scored a field goal seven minutes later to end the third quarter 3-0 to TNB.
With the match literally won, TNB continued the pressure in search for more goals in the fourth quarter and were rewarded six minutes from time through Muhammad Firdaus Omar’s penalty corner.
TNB’s win keeps them at fourth position and will face UITM-KPT at KLHA Stadium this Sunday.
Kuala Lumpur Hockey Club (KLHC) also preserved their unbeaten streak this season by dispatching Maybank 4-1 at the MBMB Hockey Stadium in Malacca.
Their goals were scored by Muhammad Nur Asyraf Ishak (PC, 13th min), Mohd Syamim Yusof (FG, 15th min), Anton Poul Fritz Ebeling (FG, 47th minute) and Muhammad Azri Hassan (FG, 55th minute) whilst Mohd Zulhairi Hashim got Maybank’s only goal through a penalty corner in the 16th minute.
The last match of the day saw Terengganu Hockey Team (THT) condemn TNB Thunderbolts to an 8-0 thrashing at SSTMI Stadium.
In-form Jang Jonghyun helped himself to four goals with Mohd Shahrun Nabil Abdullah, Muhammad Firhan Ashaari, Ameer Aiman, Ismail Abu and Faizal Saari getting the rest in a very much one-sided affair.
TNBMHL 2017 PREMIER LEAGUE RESULTS (20 January 2017):
UITM-KPT 2-6 UniKL
Maybank 1-4 KLHC
SSTMI 0-4 TNB
TNB Thunderbolt 0-8 THT
