Kuala Lumpur Wipers and Tengku Mahkota Ismail Sports School (SSTMI) Thunderbolt will battle it out for the Inaugural Junior Women’s Hockey League crown.
Both teams went into their respective semi-finals second-leg matches with comfortable leads and determined to avoid any injuries and suspensions for the final on Sunday.
In an action packed return leg, KL Wipers raced to a two-goal lead against MSN Kedah/MSS Kedah through field goals from Nur Zafirah (12th) and Qasidah Najwa (19th). MSN Kedah/MSS Kedah then pulled one back through Divyah Ravi in the 26th minute to end the first half 2-1 in favour of Wipers.
Buoyed by their goal just before half-time, MSN Kedah/MSS Kedah came out with all guns blazing and got their equalising goal in the 43rd minute through Nur Amirah Shakirah but Nur Amirah Jasmi restored Wipers lead in the 50th minute.
Nur Amirah Shakirah scored her second in the 59th minute to equalize again for MSN Kedah/MSS Kedah at 3-3 before Nurrobiatun Norhisham finished off a well executed penalty corner in the 69th minute and Nur Zafirah’s second of the match in the last minute to secure a 5-3 win for KL Wipers (9-4 on aggregate).
With a 5-0 advantage from the first-leg, SSTMI Thunderbolt started with confidence against Sekolah Sukan Sabah Malaysia and opened the scoring in the 34th minute through Liyana Aqilah’s penalty corner.
In the second-half, Sekolah Sukan Sabah Malaysia tried to get back in the match with quick attacking play but SSTMI Thunderbolt remained defensively solid. Arinah Azyyati extended SSTMI’s advantage in the 66th minute to end the match 2-0 winners (7-0 on aggregate).
On Sunday, SSTMI Thunderbolt will face KL Wipers in the final (7pm) while Sekolah Sukan Malaysia Sabah and MSN Kedah/MSS Kedah meet in the 3rd-4th place playoff match (5.0pm).
