HOCKEY: Anderson Hold Edge

Sapura waste chances in first leg

Malacca High School’s Ahmad Najmee Roslee (left) keeps the ball away from BJSS’ Muhammad Shahitam Zali at the National Hockey Stadium yesterday. BJSS won 6-1. Pic by Supian Ahmad

 DIVISION Two champions Sapura were shell shocked after they were held 1-1 by MBI Anderson in the Milo Cup quarter-finals at the Kuala Lumpur HA Stadium yesterday.

Anderson, who finished fourth in Division One, soaked up the pressure after coming back from a goal down, and are now aiming to seal a semi-final slot in the return leg tomorrow.

Sapura also lost Fadzli Zulkifli and Farid Zuki to suspension for the return leg.

Harmesh Singh gave Sapura the lead off a penalty corner attempt in the 17th minute, but Helmi Jaffar equalised for Anderson in the 38th, also off a penalty corner attempt.

"Sapura played a robust game to rattle my players, but they ended up losing concentration instead. My players can play better hockey than today (yesterday) and I believe they will be at their best in the return leg," said MBI Anderson coach Dalbir Singh.

Sapura coach I. Vickneswaran was disappointed that his team muffed four open chances.

"When you fail to score four open goals in a match, there is bound to be unnecessary pressure in the return leg. We will also play without two regulars, and that itself is going to make us the underdogs," said Vickneswaran.

League champions SSTMI Thunderbolts virtually qualified for the semi-finals when they hammered Petaling Jaya Municipal Council (PJCC) 7-1.

RESULTS -- Quarter-finals (first leg): SSTMI Thunderbolts 7 Petaling Jaya Municipal Council 1, Sapura 1 MBI-Anderson 1, Malacca High School 1 Bukit Jalil Sports School 6, UniKL Young Guns 6 USM Juniors 1.


TOMORROW -- Return leg: Bukit Jalil Sports School v Malacca High School (Bukit Jalil Pitch II, 4pm), USM Juniors v UniKL Young Guns (KLHA, 4pm), Petaling Jaya Municipal Council v SSTMI Thunderbolts (Bukit Jalil Pitch II, 6pm), MBI-Anderson v Sapura (KLHA, 6pm).

Read more: HOCKEY: Anderson hold edge - Other - New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/sports/other/hockey-anderson-hold-edge-1.51705#ixzz1nYVYgLhq