Tenaga retain Charity Shield in Malaysian Hockey League opener against Kuala Lumpur Hockey Club
The Malaysian Hockey League (MHL) kicked off today with a stunning Charity Shield match between Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) and Kuala Lumpur Hockey Club (KLHC) at the Tun Razak Stadium in Kuala Lumpur. TNB won the match 2-0, retaining
the Charity Shield and acquiring three points in the MHL.
TNB won the game by scoring off a penalty corner in each half of the game. TNB had five penalty corners: legendary drag flicker Mohammad Amin Rahim attempted one in the 15th minute but was blocked by KLHC goalkeeper;
however, Amin was successful in the 33rd minute; but he failed again in the 49th and 50th minutes; Faiz Helmi Jali then sealed his team’s victory by scoring a penalty goal in the last minutes of the match.
KLHC also got three penalty corners during the match, but could not avail any of them. Two of these were attempted by Razie Abdul Rahim (in the 30th and 40th minutes), and one by Baljit Singh (in the 64th
minute).
KLHC did play an aggressive game, especially in the second half, but could not manage to score. In the 20th minute, Shahrun Nabil Abdullah dribbled the ball through several defenders to get inside the semi-circle but
his efforts were warded off by Amin. A couple of good chances to level the score did present themselves, but Azlan Misron and Ismail Abu could not see them through.
Conditions had been quite tough for both teams due to heavy rain and a waterlogged turf.
“My boys did well playing in heavy conditions caused by rain since late afternoon,” said TNB coach Nor Saiful Zaini after the match. “It was a good start for us, earning full points as well in our opening match.”
However, he also added, "Although, we won today, I am not too happy with my players' performance. But I am confident they will do better after a few matches."
Meanwhile, KLHC coach K. Dharmaraj lamented the three penalty corners his team earned and then lost during the game. “Our game was also affected by rain,” he added.
Tags: