Hockey: Penang to take on Malacca in final

Mohd Jamil Saidin made a crucial deflection from the top of the D in the 59th minute to give Penang a 1-0 win over Terengganu and a place in the final of the national Under-21 tournament at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil yesterday.

Penang will play against favourites Malacca for the title tomorrow. Malacca, who finished as runners-up when they hosted the tournament in 2005, had no problem beating Negri Sembilan 5-2 in the other semi-final.

Penang went on the offensive from the start and earned four penalty corners in the first half but all their attempts came to nought. Terengganu also had their chances but were let down by poor finishing.

In the 30th minute, Penang saw their defender M. Yuvaraj being sent to the sin bin for bringing down forward Mohd Firham Ashari on the edge of the D. Terengganu were awarded a penalty corner but they failed to make a conversion.

Penang then came close to taking the lead in the 45th minute with Firdaus Ahmad Tajuddin’s deflection hitting the post. But Penang were not to be denied a goal 14 minutes later with Mohd Jamil deflecting a through ball from Mohd Fahmi Nasir into goal.

Terengganu pushed their forwards up front in search for goals but Penang goalkeeper Mohd Syafiq Jaafar played well to save all the attempts.

Penang coach B. Rajendran said: “I am happy with the fighting spirit of my players. Some of them had to play the match even though they were suffering from muscle pulls and hamstring injuries.

“We only registered 16 players and it’s not easy playing with two players fewer than the other teams. Six matches in six days also took its toll on my players. However, I hope that my boys will rise to the occasion in the final.”

Malacca led Negri 1-0 at half time but turned on the heat in the second half.

Mohd Fareez Ismail was the toast for Malacca, scoring a brace in the eighth and 36th minutes. Skipper Nazmi Kamaruddin (46th), B. Nanasivayam (51st) and Mohd Arifin Dolah (63rd) scored the other goals. Both the Negri goals were scored by G. Kavin Kartik (39th and 55th).

Malacca coach G. Ravindran said that he was delighted with his team’s high-scoring win.

“My boys have played well in every match and I am impressed with their high level of confidence. We have been runners-up in the last four editions of the championship and we hope to end the title drought on Saturday,” he said.