Sunday, June 19, 2011
MALACCA EMERGE CHAMPIONS
Malacca emerged champions of the National Under 21 Tournament when they defeated Kuala Lumpur 2-1 in the final played at the Taman Daya Hockey Stadium in Johor Baru.
Although six regulars in total missing from both teams from the final, as a result of playing in the AHF Under 18 Tournament in Singapore, the match lived up to the expectations of a final as both Kuala Lumpur and Malacca played fast attacking hockey.
A late goal by Kuala Lumpur ensured a grandstand finish after Malacca had taken a 2-0 lead but the city side have only themselves to blame as they created enough chances to win the match.
KL were without four regulars, in the likes of Mohd Fitri Saari, Mohd Shahril Saabah, Mohd Taufik Abdul Hamid and Mohd Aslam Mohammad. Only Mohd Amirul Aideed Arshad was released to play for KL in the final.
"We sorely missed the players as they were our midfielders. Still I am proud of the performance of the team who did give Malacca a fight right to the final whistle," said KL coach K. Embaraj.
"We need to finish chances in order to win matches and that was not there today. But we lost to a better side."
"We sorely missed the players as they were our midfielders. Still I am proud of the performance of the team who did give Malacca a fight right to the final whistle," said KL coach K. Embaraj.
"We need to finish chances in order to win matches and that was not there today. But we lost to a better side."
For Malacca they missed two players, Mohd Hazrul Faiz and penalty corner ace Ganeisha Tamil Chelvam.
"It is indeed a great honour for Malacca hockey as we have always done well in age group tournaments in the past. Winning this tourney shows that we have talented players in the state," said Malacca coach Chua Boon Huat who made his debut as a coach.
"Our game plan was simple, absorb the early pressure and get them on the break. And it paid dividends with the two goals."
"It is indeed a great honour for Malacca hockey as we have always done well in age group tournaments in the past. Winning this tourney shows that we have talented players in the state," said Malacca coach Chua Boon Huat who made his debut as a coach.
"Our game plan was simple, absorb the early pressure and get them on the break. And it paid dividends with the two goals."
Malacca were awarded a penalty corner in the eight minute but failed to get a shot on goal.
Kuala Lumpur were made to work hard by the Malacca and it took them 16 minutes before they had a first look at goal, that too through a penalty corner. But they could not get a decent attempt on goal.
Amirullah Zainol almost gave Malacca the lead in the next minute but muffed the chance with only the KL keeper Shahrul Azaddin Auskarzie to beat.
But he was on target in the 19th minute as his shot beat Shahrul and on hand was Ahrujunan Panir Chelvam at the far post to guide the ball into goal and give Malacca a 1-0 lead.
With KL only having three reserves on the bench, coach K. Embaraj did not have much options left to him in making changes.
Malacca had a dream start in the second half as Amirullah burst in from the right to slip the ball past Shahrul in the 37th minute to put his team 2-0 up, and a firm grip on the final.
The goal boosted the confidence of the Malacca players as they kept harassing the KL players for every ball, not giving them room to display their abundance of skills.
Malacca keeper Mohd Ridzuan Azmi kept Malacca in the game pulling off a double save in the 58th minute to deny Mohd Zulhairi Hashim and Mohd Syamim Mohd Yusof.
KL were on the top of things in the final ten minutes, but they sorely missed the presence of the key players and in the process were a beaten side.
Zulhairi finally scored from a penalty corner in the 65th minute to reduce the deficit to 2-1 but it was too late for KL.
With KL only having three reserves on the bench, coach K. Embaraj did not have much options left to him in making changes.
Malacca had a dream start in the second half as Amirullah burst in from the right to slip the ball past Shahrul in the 37th minute to put his team 2-0 up, and a firm grip on the final.
The goal boosted the confidence of the Malacca players as they kept harassing the KL players for every ball, not giving them room to display their abundance of skills.
Malacca keeper Mohd Ridzuan Azmi kept Malacca in the game pulling off a double save in the 58th minute to deny Mohd Zulhairi Hashim and Mohd Syamim Mohd Yusof.
KL were on the top of things in the final ten minutes, but they sorely missed the presence of the key players and in the process were a beaten side.
Zulhairi finally scored from a penalty corner in the 65th minute to reduce the deficit to 2-1 but it was too late for KL.
Results:
3/4th Placing
Johor 2
Pahang 2
(Johor won 3-2 in penalty shootout)
Final
Malacca 2
Kuala Lumpur 1
Roll of Honor:
Champion: Malacca
Runner-Up: Kuala Lumpur
Third: Johor
Fourth: Pahang
Fifth: Perak
Sixth: Selangor
Seventh: Negri Sembilan
Eight: Penang
Man of the Match (Final): Amirullah Zainol (Malacca)
Most Outstanding Player: Mohd Syamim Mohd Yusof (Kuala Lumpur)
Top Scorer: Mohd Nor Hafiq Abdul Ghafar (Johor) – 6 goals
Best Goalkeeper: Mohd Hazrul Faiz (Malacca)
Fairplay: Malacca
JOHOR TAKE THIRD SPOT
Johor took third place in the National Under 21 Tournament when they edged Pahang 3-2 in the nations first penalty shoot-out to determine a winner of a match.
The two teams were tied 2-2 at the end of regulation time and extra time of 15 minutes failed to break the deadlock.
The shootout was a confusing affair as the teams and match officials failed to comprehend the regulations and it was only to be expected given the fact it was the first time such a situation arose.
In the initial shootout, the teams were also tied 2-2 forcing a sudden death where Mohd Nor Hafiq Abdul Ghaffar scored the winner.
Johor took the lead in the 34th minute when Mohd Nor Hafiq converted a penalty corner. But Pahang was on level terms in the 46th minute Zulhanan Mazlan scored.
Zulhanan was on target again in the 54th minute to give Pahang a 2-1 lead but Mohd Nor Hafiq forced the match into extra-time by equalizing for Johor in the 63rd minute, through a penalty corner.
Saturday, June 18, 2011
MALACCA TO PLAY KL IN THE FINAL
Malacca came from a goal down to qualify for the final of the National Under 21 Tournament when they edged Pahang 3-2 in the semi finals at the Taman Daya Hockey Stadium in Johor Baru.
But Malacca will be without two players, keeper Mohd Hazrul Faiz and match winner Ganeisha Tamil Chelvam as the duo left for Singapore after the final to join the National U18 team for the AHF Cup Tournament.
"Making the final is a great achievement as not many gave us a chance but I always had the confidence in these players," said Malacca coach Chua Boon Huat.
"Missing the two players will make it difficult to match Kuala Lumpur in the final but we will give it our best shot."
Pahang went ahead in the 4th minute when Mohd Hafizuddin Mat Isa converted a penalty corner.
But Malacca will be without two players, keeper Mohd Hazrul Faiz and match winner Ganeisha Tamil Chelvam as the duo left for Singapore after the final to join the National U18 team for the AHF Cup Tournament.
"Making the final is a great achievement as not many gave us a chance but I always had the confidence in these players," said Malacca coach Chua Boon Huat.
"Missing the two players will make it difficult to match Kuala Lumpur in the final but we will give it our best shot."
Pahang went ahead in the 4th minute when Mohd Hafizuddin Mat Isa converted a penalty corner.
But their joy was shortlived as two minutes later Malacca equalized. Ganeisha Tamil Chelvam muffed the initial attempt but the ball fell to Amirullah Zainol who had no problems scoring.
Pahang were awarded two penalty corners but failed to score while Malacca were content with counter attacking hockey.
Pahang went ahead in the 39th minute when Aminuddin Abu was the first to the ball after the initial penalty corner attempt by Hafizuddin was saved. He displayed calmness to sidestep the keeper Mohd Hazrul Faiz to score.
However Malacca hit back in the 41st minute when Wan Luqman Haziq Wan Mahadi scored after being put through by Dedi Aryandi to make it 2-2.
Both teams played very cautiously and tried to win penalty corners but to no avail.
Dedi could have become the hero when he went past the Pahang keeper in the 65th minute but sent his reverse stick attempt out.
Malacca were then awarded a penalty corner in the 67th minute but they muffed the attempted set piece. And a minute later Dedi missed another sitter which would have sealed a place in the final for Malacca.
But Ganeisha found the target in the 69th minute of a penalty corner to send Malacca into the final where they will play Kuala Lumpur.
Pahang were awarded two penalty corners but failed to score while Malacca were content with counter attacking hockey.
Pahang went ahead in the 39th minute when Aminuddin Abu was the first to the ball after the initial penalty corner attempt by Hafizuddin was saved. He displayed calmness to sidestep the keeper Mohd Hazrul Faiz to score.
However Malacca hit back in the 41st minute when Wan Luqman Haziq Wan Mahadi scored after being put through by Dedi Aryandi to make it 2-2.
Both teams played very cautiously and tried to win penalty corners but to no avail.
Dedi could have become the hero when he went past the Pahang keeper in the 65th minute but sent his reverse stick attempt out.
Malacca were then awarded a penalty corner in the 67th minute but they muffed the attempted set piece. And a minute later Dedi missed another sitter which would have sealed a place in the final for Malacca.
But Ganeisha found the target in the 69th minute of a penalty corner to send Malacca into the final where they will play Kuala Lumpur.
Results:
Semi Final
Johor 1
Kuala Lumpur 4
Malacca 3
Pahang 2
5/6th Placing
Selangor 2
Perak 8
7/8th Placing
Negri Sembilan 1
Penang 0
Fixtures – Sunday
3/4th Placing
1600H – Johor v Pahang
Final
1800H – Kuala Lumpur v Malacca
KL DEFEAT JOHOR FOR PLACE IN FINAL
Kuala Lumpur qualified for the final of the National Under 21 Tournament when they defeated Johor 4-1 in the semifinals at the Taman Daya Hockey Stadium in Johor Baru.
The city side recovered from a goal down and scored three goals in a space of four minutes in the second half to deny the hosts of a place in Sunday’s final.
However they will be without the services of five players for the final as they left for Singapore to join the national U18 team participating in the AHF Cup.
The five are Mohd Fitri Saari, Mohd Shahril Saabah, Mohd Taufik Abdul Hamid, Mohd Aslam Mohammad and Mohd Amirul Aideed Arshad. However Aideed is expected to be released to play for KL in the final.
“This was our best performance as the forwards took their chances well,” said KL coach K. Embaraj.
“However we will sorely miss the services of the four players and it will be a tough task playing the final with only 14 players. But this is something we knew before the tournament and have accepted the fact that national duty comes first.
“The difference today between us and Johor was our superior fitness and the experience of the key players also was a vital factor in helping us secure a place in the final.”
Johor opened scoring in the 4th minute when no Mohd Nor Hafiq Abdul Ghaffar converted a penalty corner.
However KL were undeterred and went on attack mode to search for the equalizer. And they would have not scored had it not been for Mohd Ramadhan Rosli who missed two sitters in the 17th and 20th minutes with only the keeper to beat.
But KL were back on level terms in the 24th minute when instead of his trademark flicks, Mohd Zulhairi Hashim opted to hit and it sounded the board to make it 1-1.
Johor had several opportunities to score, with their best chance falling to Mohd Fariq Saadon who had a simple task of tapping the ball into an empty goal with all the KL players beaten but instead put the attempt wide. And that was the respite KL needed.
Mohd Shahril Saabah put KL ahead in the 56th minute through a penalty corner strike. And three minutes later Mohd Syamim Mohd Yusof scored KL’s third goal.
Barely a minute later Shahril capitalised on poor defending by Mohd Amirul Syafiq and raced into the semi circle before slotting the ball past a bewildered Johor custodian Mohd Hairi Abdul Rahman.
“We lost to a better team and really the players tried their best. But where the mind was willing, the legs were not just up to it as our fitness let us down,” said Johor coach Chairil Anwar Abdul Aziz.
“There were lapses of concentration in the defence and we made silly mistakes to give the ball away in our own half. And that cost us a place in the final.”
In the match to determine the 5/6th placing, Perak defeated Selangor 8-2.
Results:
Semi Final
Johor 1
Kuala Lumpur 4
5/6th Placing
Selangor 2
Perak 8
Friday, June 17, 2011
KL, MALACCA QUALIFY FOR SEMIS
Kuala Lumpur qualified for the semi finals of the National Under 21 after subduing a fighting Perak 3-2 at the Taman Daya Hockey Stadium in Johor Baru.
While KL needed an outright win, Perak could have qualified had they drawn the match but the city side had striker Mohd Syamim Mohd Yusof to thank as his hattrick sunk the silver state, who at one stage came back from a two goal deficit to draw level.
And Malacca also qualified for the last four thanks to their 2-0 win over Penang.
Penalty corner strikes by Ganeisha Tamil Chelvam in the 18th minute and Mohd Huzairy Mohd Zain in the 60th minute and booked Malacca a semis spot where they will take on Pahang.
KL were 2-0 up by the 20th minute thanks to clinical finishing by Syamim.
His first goal in the 13th minute was as a result of a neat exchange of passes with Mohd Shahril Saabah with Syamim slipping the ball past the onrushing Perak keeper.
But the second was a gem as he deflected a hard hit into the semi circle by Mohd Zulhairi Hashim to put KL 2-O ahead in the 19th minute.
Perak were resilient as they crept back into the game with Mohd Soffian Kamaruddin scoring in the 21st minute.
Izzad Hakimi Jamaluddin had two golden chances to put Perak on level terms but muffed both sitters through his overconfidence as the ball was cleared off the goal-line by the KL defenders.
But Perak were not to be denied the equaliser when Mohd Sabri Mohammad converted a penalty corner in the 38th minute.
KL were unfortunate when the attempt by Shahril Sabah in the 50th minute hit the post.
But Syamim had the final say with his winner in the 62nd minute and KL will now take on hosts Johor for a place in the final.
Results
Group A
Johor 1
Selangor 0
Negri Sembilan 0
Pahang 1
Group B
1900H
Kuala Lumpur 3
Perak 2
Penang 0
Malacca 2
TABLE
Group A
P W D L G A PTS
Johor 3 2 1 0 7 1 7
Pahang 3 1 2 0 4 3 5
Selangor 3 1 1 1 6 6 4
N. Sembilan 3 0 0 3 3 10 0
Group B
P W D L G A PTS
Malacca 3 2 0 1 5 3 6
K. Lumpur 3 2 0 1 5 4 6
Perak 3 1 0 2 7 7 3
Penang 3 1 0 2 3 6 3
Fixtures : Saturday
1700H - 5/6th Placing : Selangor v Perak – Pitch 2
1700H – Semi Final : Johor v Kuala Lumpur – Pitch 1
1900H – 7/8th Placing: Negri Sembilan v Penang – Pitch 2
1900H – Semi Final : Pahang v Malacca – Pitch 1
JOHOR, PAHANG MAKE SEMIS
Johor defeated Selangor 1-0 in the National Under 21 Tournament at the Taman Daya Hockey Stadium in Johor Baru to book a spot in the semifinals as Group A champions.
And a last minute penalty stroke conversion by Pahang gave them a 1-0 win over Negri Sembilan and more importantly a place in the semifinals tomorrow.
Johor needed a draw while Selangor would have needed an outright win if Pahang defeated Negri Sembilan.
And in the end is was a tale of missed chances that cost Selangor a win. Infact their match against Johor finished a minute earlier then the Pahang/NS clash and the Selangor players were silently celebrating the draw on the adjacent pitch.
“We were fortunate as Selangor played a much better game and missed so many chances in the final 15 minutes of the match,” said Johor coach Chairil Anwar Abdul Aziz.
“My players were too nervous after taking the lead and were looking at defending the lead rather then taking the game to the opponents.
“Still making the semis is a welcome relief and we await our opponents. Frankly at this stage it does not matter who your opponents are for we have to raise our game in order to make the final.”
Having absorbed the early Selangor forays, Johor became more confident, relying on short passes to gain ground.
But it was as a result of a long overhead pass out of defence by Mohd Nor Hafiq Abdul Ghaffar that resulted in Johor’s opening goal.
His pass found Mohd Ismat Imadi Mohd in the opponents 25 and he in turn laid up a pass for Mohd Fariq Saadon who hit an unstoppable shot into the roof of the goal, leaving Selangor keeper Azzrul Fahmy Zakaria rooted.
Both teams were too cautious in their approach in the first half and as a result no penalty corners were awarded.
In the second half Selangor forced a penalty corner in the 40th minute Mohd Noor Faeez Ibraham was denied by a spectacular save by Johor custodian Mohd Hairi Abdul Rahman.
Eight minutes later it was the upright that denied Selangor an equalizer as the attempt by Faeez hit the post and bounced out of play.
The Pahang/Negri match was heading to a draw but Pahang were awarded a penalty corner just before the hooter went. And from the resulting penalty corner the attempt by Nor Nashriq Farhan hit Negri defender M. Shashoban on the body, resulting in a penalty stroke.
Mohd Aminuddin Abu, the younger brother of former international Ismail Abu, converted the penalty stroke to send Pahang into the last eight.
“We though we had blown our chances as we missed so many chances to score and frustration crept into the team, “ said Pahang coach Mohd Yazid Yunus.
“But we were fortunate the get that last gasp goal and now look forward to the semis with renewed enthusiasm.
“It is 70 minutes that separates us from a place in the final and we will give it our best shot.”
Results
Group A
Johor 1
Selangor 0
Negri Sembilan 0
Pahang 1
Group B
1900H
Pitch 1 – Kuala Lumpur v Perak
Pitch 2 – Penang v Malacca
TABLE
Group A
P W D L G A PTS
Johor 3 2 1 0 7 1 7
Pahang 3 1 2 0 4 3 5
Selangor 3 1 1 1 6 6 4
N. Sembilan 3 0 0 3 3 10 0
Group B
P W D L G A PTS
Perak 2 1 0 1 5 4 3
Malacca 2 1 0 1 3 3 3
K. Lumpur 2 1 0 1 2 2 3
Penang 2 1 0 1 3 4 3
Fixtures : Saturday
1700H - 5/6th Placing : Selangor v XXXX – Pitch 2
1700H – Semi Final : Johor v XXXX – Pitch 1
1900H – 7/8th Placing: Negri Sembilan v XXXX – Pitch 2
1900H – Semi Final : Pahang v XXXX – Pitch 1
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