Saturday January 26, 2013

Former champs Petaling Jaya City Council now league leaders after win over MBI-Anderson

MBPJ's Ahmad Iqwan Shah control a ball past MBI-Anderson's M. Norsyahmi Rasidi (sit) during their MJHL 2013...--M. Azhar Arif/The Star

KUALALUMPUR: Former champions Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) came back from a goal down to edge MBI Anderson 2-1 at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil to top the MHC-Milo-NSC Junior Hockey League standings yesterday.

It was MBPJ’s fourth consecutive win in as many matches.

For MBI-Anderson, it was their first defeat in three matches.

Yesterday, the Ipoh team drew the first blood in the fifth minute off a field goal from Mohd Soffian Kamaruddin.

But their joy was short-lived as the PJ team equalised five minutes later through Mohd Shahiram Zali from a close range attempt.

MBPJ went all out to get the winning goal in the second half and they were rewarded when Nazirul Mubin Zebidi sounded the board in the 54th minute.

MBPJ assistant team manager Zanal Abidin was delighted with his team’s performance.

“We not only top the standings for the first time but we are also on the right track to win the league title,” said Zanal.

MBPJ, who won the overall title in 2006, will face MSS Penang-USM today at the same venue. And Zanal is banking on his boys to collect full points again.

In another match played at the adjacent pitch, Universiti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL) stayed in the title chase by outplaying MSS Penang-USM 4-1.

UniKL and double champions Tunku Mahkota Ismail Sports School (SSTMI)-Thunderbolt are tied on nine points but the school team are in second place on a better goal difference.

Azrul Hasbullah gave UniKL the lead in the sixth minute off a penalty corner before the Penang team equalised in the seventh minute through Rahimi Iskandar.

UniKL stormed back and scored in the space of two minutes. Haziq Samsul scored off another penalty corner in the 31st minute and two minutes later he was on target to make it 3-1.

Meor Azuan completed the rout with a field goal in the 39th minute.

UniKL manager Mohd Faiz Isa said that it was a scrappy match and they need to be sharper in the semi-circle.

“We can expect another tough match against Anderson as they are experienced side. We have an outside chance to win the title and in order to keep that hope alive we need to keep on winning matches,” said Faiz.

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