The action to determine the TNB Malaysia Hockey League (Premier) 2021 champions will be decided in the last match on Thursday (March 25). All teams in the top four group maintained their position by overcoming their opponents in the sixth match of the league.
UniKL continued to secure its lead position with an advantage of one point (16 points) ahead of nearest challenger THT (15 points) while Maybank jumped one rung with TNB dropping to fourth place in the League after tonight’s match.
UniKL 4 TNB Thunderbolts 0
The quest for the second trophy seems to be almost realized after a comfortable victory over TNB Thunderbolts 4-0 at the National Hockey Stadium tonight, thus strengthening the position of the defending champion UniKL at the top of the league ahead of the climax in 48 hours.
Experienced player Harvinder Singh’s field goal in the 25th minute brought relief to UniKL, changing the tempo and dominating the game after the first half.
Three goals in seven minutes through field goals by Tengku Ahmad Tajuddin Tengku Abdul Jalil (31st minute), Muhammad Marhan Mohd Jalil (33rd minute) and Nur Rahul Hrsikesa Thaichana Muruthi
In the 39th minute, ensuring that UniKL continues to top the top of the League and it will certainly be a supply to the deciding match against Maybank this Thursday.
THT 6 Nurinsafi HT/Sports 1
Terengganu Hockey Team (THT) continued to put pressure by ensuring that the league championship was carried over to the last match when it easily overcame Nurinsafi HT/Sports 6-1.
Faizal Saari’s success in scoring hat-tricks in the first, eighth and 45th minutes came just in time and should be a source of encouragement for THT to face an important match this Thursday against TNB.
The hat -trick added Faizal’s personal goal collection to 11 goals so far, placing him as the main candidate for the top scorer award this season.
Faizal’s early goal as soon as the starting whistle was blown became an injector of spirit for the THT line resulting in goals through Fitri Saari in the 24th minute, Syarman Mat Tee (32nd minute) and Muhammad Noor Firdaus Rosdi (49th minute).
THT remains in second place in the league collecting 15 points overall by being the team that scored the most goals with 30 goals compared to seven other teams.
UITM HA 0 TNB 0
TNB missed the opportunity to maintain its third position when it was just a goalless draw against UITM HA. The failure of Nor Azlan Bakar’s protege to break the deadlock makes it difficult for TNB to challenge for the championship this season.
TNB is facing a difficult task to curb the progress of THT which is now at its best with top scorer Faizal Saari regaining his poisonous touch.
TNB failed to complete the opportunity and was often disappointed by the immunity of UITM HA who missed the opportunity to advance to the TNB Cup after only collecting 7 points, five points behind TNB.
Maybank 3 Sabah 0
Maybank beat Sabah 3-0 to move up to third place in the League and book tickets to the semi-finals of the TNB Cup.
The failure of TNB’s nearest rival, which was just a goalless draw against UITM HA in another match, opened the opportunity for Maybank to climb one step further, giving hope to challenge THT’s position in the last match.
Muhammad Najmi Farizal Jazlan once again found the touch when he scored the opening goal in the sixth minute, also his sixth personal goal in the League.
Meor Muhammad Azuan Hasan’s field goal in the 34th minute and Muhammad Kamarulzaman Kamaruddin (44th minute) ensured Maybank’s full points.
THT, who went down against TNB in the last match, is now in second place with 15 points.
Maybank will definitely go all out to make a surprise in the last match against the leaders of the UniKL League while hoping for TNB’s surprise over THT.
NEXT MATCH SCHEDULE:
Thursday, March 25, 2021
- UiTM VS Sabah NHS 1
- UniKL VS Maybank NHS 2
- TNB VS THT NHS 1
- TNB Thunderbolts VS Nurinsafi HT/Sports NHS 2
