SSTMI almost pull of opening day upset in MHL
- S. RAMAGURU
- Aug 6, 2016
- 2 min read
TNB Thunderbolt play against SSTMI in the opening day of MHL.
KUALA LUMPUR: The Tunku Mahkota Ismail Sports School (SSTMI) very nearly produced an opening day upset in Division One of the Malaysia Hockey League (MHL).
The sports school held defending champions TNB-Thunderbolt to a 3-3 draw at the KL Hockey Stadium here on Friday.
SSTMI even took a surprise first-minute lead through Azhad Akmal Mohd Fahmi.
But Thunderbolt showed that they were made of sterner stuff by scoring three goals in an eight-minute spree to go 3-1 up.
Mohd Idris Samad started the Thunderbolt fightback by scoring the equaliser, off a penalty corner setpiece, in the 20th minute.
Five minutes later Syaman Mat Tee put Thunderbolt 2-1 up with a field goal. Then, in the 28th minute, Mohd Hazzim Amin gave them a two-goal cushion with another field goal.
It was then Malaysian Junior Hockey League (MJHL) double champions SSTMI’s turn to launch their own fightback, with Fahmi Zulhelmi Norazman narrowing the deficit in the 45th minute.
Mohd Zulhamizan Awang Abas made sure SSTMI would return home with a share of the spoils when he slotted home a field goal in the 51st minute.
SSTMI coach Wan Roslan Wan Abdullah attributed the draw to fatigue, saying “my players were tired after just finishing the Sukma (in Sarawak)”.
“I’m happy with the result as one point is still a good start against the champions,” he said.
“I believe that we can play better and the team will be more settled after a few matches. We played the match straight after arriving from Johor Baru.
“So, there is really nothing for me to complain about.
“What’s important is that we need to stay focused and not drop points unnecessarily.”
In another match, at the Sungei Petani Hockey Stadium, Nur Insafi scored a goal in each half to beat ATM-Airod 2-0.
Both the Nur Insafi goals were scored by Nur Rahull Hrsikesa was the hero for Nur Insafi when he netted both the goals – in the eighth and 60th minutes.
It was good start for Nur Insafi, who are the only team in Division One with three foreign players.
Sources: The Star