Negri
Sembilan scrapped past Penang 5-4 in the MHC-Milo-NSC-MOE National Under 14
Tournament at the Seremban Two Hockey Stadium.
And
defending champions Kuala Lumpur had to come from a goal down to hold Johor to
a 1-1 draw in a Group A match.
The
hosts were lucky to have registered a win as Penang came from a 5-1 deficit to
close the gap to 5-4 but ran out of time.
The
win was Negri’s third in four matches thus far and puts them second in Group B
with Perak on top with a 100 per cent record.
“My
players became complacent and nearly paid the price for it. This is a good
lesson not take any opponent or lead for granted. Their lackadisical atitude
almost cost us three points,” said Negri coach Balbir Singh.
“Now
we have to get full points from our remaining two matches against Sabah and
Terengganu. And we just cannot afford to drop points as Terengganu and Penang
are in with a chance as well should we falter.”
It
was Penang who took the lead in the 5th minute through Muhd Aiman
Asyraff Mansor. However Negri were on level terms three minutes later through
Muhd Hilmi Hairuddin.
Goals
by Mohd Yusry Shamsol (27th minute), Hilmi (30th minute)
and Muhd Hameran (35th minute) gave Negri a comfortable 4-1 lead at
halftime.
A
penalty stroke converted by Abdul Syafiq Abdul Razak in the 38th
minute further extended the lead.
But
Penang hit a purple patch, scoring three goals in a nine minute spell through
Muhd Azim Ilias (60th minute), Mohd Farhan Rozi (61st
minute) and Muhd Safirul Sazali (69th minute) brought the islanders
within a goal of forcing a draw.
However
they ran out of time and Negri could consider themselves as lucky.
In
another Group B clash, last year’s runner up Terengganu dropped points when
they were held to a 2-2 draw by Malacca.
The
east coast side took the lead in the 44th minute through Muhd Amirul
Mirza Rozi only for Malacca to draw level in the 52nd minute with
Adam Aiman Mamat scoring off a penalty corner.
And
seven minutes later Malacca surged ahead through the efforts of Amir Wafiq
Aizat Kamruddin. Muhd Shakir Izuddin Shamsuri saved the blushes for Terengganu
by scoring in the 64th minute.
Kuala
Lumpur had registered two wins before lining up against Johor. But they found
themselves a goal down in the 38th minute as Johor’s Mohd Amirul Hanis
Abdul Aziz converted a penalty corner.
Despite
dominating play, the city side failed to make use of their chances and only got
their equaliser in the 51st minute when Fallah Hassan Shahrom Jamil
scored off a penalty corner.
In
another Group A match, Pahang and Perlis played to a 2-2 draw. Pahang led
through Muhd Ikmal Hafiz in the 18th minute only for Perlis to
equalise in the 55th minute via Muhd Nur Hakim Bakri who converted a
penalty corner.
Two
minutes later Pahang took the lead for the second time in a match through Muhd
Ilman Nazmi. But a goal in the final minute by Perlis by Izzwan Arif Nazaruddin
made sure the points were shared.
Results:
Group A
Perlis 2 Pahang 2
Johor 1 Kuala Lumpur 1
Group B
Negri Sembilan 5 Penang 4
Perak 5 Sabah 0
Terengganu 2 Malacca 2
Fixtures: Wednesday, November 21
Group A
0800H – Selangor v Kelantan
1630 – Kuala Lumpur v Pahang
Group B
0800H – Kedah v Terengganu
1600H – Sabah v Terengganu
1800H – Malacca v Penang
GROUP A
P
W D
L F
A PTS
K. Lumpur
3
2 1
0
8 3
7
Kelantan
2
1
1 0
1
0 4
Johor
3
1
1
1
8
4 4
Selangor
2
1
0 1
4
6 3
Pahang
3
0 2
1
1
7 2
Perlis
3
0
1
2
2 4
1
GROUP B
P W
D
L F A
PTS
Perak
4
4 0
0 13
2 12
N. Sembilan
4 3
0
1 13
8
9
Penang
3 2
0
1 13
8
6
Terengganu
3
1
1 1
5 5
4
Malacca
3 1
1 1
5 6
4
Sabah
4
0 0
4 4
15 0
Kedah
3
0 0
3
1
10 0
