Edhazril Shamshul, who hails from the indigenous Semai tribe, scored four goals as Perak went full throttle to trounce Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) 14-0 in the TNB Men’s Tun Abdul Razak Cup 2024 at the Johor Hockey Stadium, Taman Daya, Johor Bahru today.
The 16-year-old, a student at SMK Gunung Rapat a.k.a Perak State Sports School, was as ruthless as his senior – Speedy Tigers’ lethal forward Muhammad Azrai Aizad Abu Kamal who slammed five goals. Syed Mohamad Syafiq Syed added two while Muhammad Luqman Hakim, Aiman Safwan Abdullah and Saiful Sharil netted one each.
PDRM were without several key senior players from Day 1 of the tournament which included drag-flick specialist Muhammad Razie Rahim who could not be released due to work commitments.
Their performance took a plunge as the tournament progressed. PDRM have thus far conceded 47 goals and scored eight in six matches. It was the second highest score in the tournament after Singapore’s 18-0 bashing by Pahang.
However, given the superiority of Perak, champions in 13 past editions, one can only pour words of admiration on the new young recruits who gave their very best to keep the marauding Perak forwards at bay until they could no longer hold the fort.
Singapore surprised Johor with a ninth-minute Kent Loo penalty corner conversion to go 1-0 ahead. The hosts, however, bounced back to register a 6-1 win.
Johor tops Group A on 16 points, followed by Pahang second spot (15), Kuala Lumpur (11), Penang (8), Perlis (7), Selangor (3), and Singapore with no points.
In Friday’s semi-final encounter, Johor will go face-to-face against Perak, and the second semi-final will be between Terengganu and Pahang.
Terengganu scalped Sabah 5-1 to finish at the top of Group B with 18 points – five ahead of second-placed Perak. Faizal Saari nailed a hat-trick, while Akhimullah Anuar Esook and Muhamad Adam Haiqal scored one each.
Pahang celebrated a 3-0 win against Kuala Lumpur with a brace from Arif Syafie (26th, 50th), and Syamil Azim’s 14th minute field goal.
In other matches, Perlis scripted a 2-0 win over Selangor in Group A, while Malacca and Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM) eked out a 3-3 draw in a Group B clash.
All placing matches will be held tomorrow (Oct 10).