HOCKEY: Scare For Big Guns

SSTMI Thunderbolts virtually qualified for the final of the Junior Hockey League Milo Cup when they hit MBI Anderson of Ipoh 5-2 in their semi-final first leg at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil yesterday.

BJSS’ Azrul Hasbullah (right) celebrates his teammates after scoring against UniKL in the first leg of the Milo Cup semi-finals at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil yesterday.

UniKL Young Guns also came back from the dead to win 3-1 against Bukit Jalil Sports School (BJSS), to keep themselves on track for a final appearance.

However, both the semi-finals had looked like they were heading for upsets, when Anderson took a 2-1 lead against Thunderbolts, while BJSS also drew first blood against UniKL.
Thunderbolts, who whitewashed Andersons 6-0 in the League, took matters for granted after Khairol Shafik scored in the 12th minute.

Anderson then shocked the favourites when skipper Najib Hassan scored off a penalty corner set-piece.

Azril Misron then made it 2-1 in the 22nd minute but Sufi Ismat equalised in the 24th and the score remained until the breather.

However, Thunderbolts showed why they were the league champions when they hit three goals within 10 minutes through Sufi (38th, 45th) and skipper Shazril Irwan Nazli (40th).

BJSS shocked UniKL when Azrul Hasbullah scored against the run of play in the 13th minute in pouring rain. But the joy was shortlived as UniKL's Haziq Samsul equalised in the 34th.

After the breather, UniKL retook the lead off Hafiz Zainol in the 40th and Syafiq Zulzairin then gave them some breathing space for the return leg with his 65th minute effort.

"There was a total lack of understanding between the midfield and forward line, and when BJSS scored it rattled my players further," said Thunderbolts coach Wan Roslan.

RESULTS -- S-finals, 1st leg: SSTMI-Thunderbolts 5 MBI Anderson 2, Bukit Jalil SS 1 UniKL 3.

TOMORROW -- Return leg: UniKL v Bukit Jalil SS (5pm), MBI Anderson v SSTMI Thunderbolts (7.30pm). -- Pitch II, National Hockey Stadium.

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