Thursday February 28, 2013

UniKL and Thunderbolt virtually in final after thumping wins

By AFTAR SINGH

UniKL’s Meor Muhamad Azuan Hasan tries to get past two SSTMI Juniors players during their MJHL first-leg semi-finals match at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil yesterday. —FAIHAN GHANI / The Star

KUALA LUMPUR: Universiti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL) and double champions Tunku Mahkota Ismail Sports School (SSTMI)-Thunderbolt are virtually through to the final after thumping first-leg wins in the MHC-Milo-NSC Junior Hockey League semi-finals.

Yesterday, UniKL trounced SSTMI Juniors 6-0 at the National Hockey Stadium while Thunderbolt exacted sweet revenge by hammering MBI-Anderson 8-0 at the Taman Daya Stadium in Johor Baru.

The return-leg matches will be played tomorrow but everything points to a fourth UniKL-Thunderbolt showdown.

Mohd Hafif Elkan Nordin starred for UniKL with a hat-trick in the 14th, 28th and 59th minutes. Mohd Syafiq Zulzairin chipped in with a brace in the 25th and 61st minutes to take his goal tally to 12.

Norsyafiq Sumantri scored UniKL’s other goal in the 43rd minute.

Thunderbolt, who lost 3-2 to MBI-Anderson in a league match, went on the offensive right from the word go to get their goals through Mohd Amirul Aided (17th, 41st), Mohd Hafiz Selemen (45th, 50th), Mohd Amiruddin Amirul Aided (13th), Mohd Shahril Saabah (27th), Zizie Azwan (35th) and Najib Abu Hassan (68th).

UniKL coach K. Embaraj was delighted with his team’s performance.

“We played much better than in the league match. We need to continue playing at a fast tempo in the return-leg,” he said.

“Although we won by half a dozen goals, we must not take our foot off the pedal.”

UniKL, however, will not have the services of forward Mohd Azrul Hasbullah in the return leg after he collected a yellow card yesterday.

“My players must avoid getting any more cards in the next match as we need all our key players for the final,” said Embaraj.

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