It’s all over for Bandar Penawar

Bandar Penawar Sports School (BPSS) also fell by the wayside in the challenge for the title in Division One of the MHF-Milo-NSC Junior Hockey League after going down 2-3 to Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil here yesterday.

With two matches more to play, BPSS can only finish with a maximum of 16 points. Leaders Tenaga Nasional, who also have two remaining matches, are now on 18 points – two points more than Bukit Jalil Sports School.

BPSS coach Wan Mohamed Roslan said that it was disappointing that his team muffed the chance to keep their title hopes alive.

“We took a two-goal lead in the first half. But some careless defending in the second half cost us the match. Now that we can no longer overtake the top two teams, we will turn our concentration to the knockout stage and use the remaining matches to fine tune our game,” he said.

The win for MPBJ took them to seven points and they have nine points to play for in their remaining matches.

The absence of suspended Faisal Shaari diluted BPSS' effectiveness in their penalty corner set piece moves. But Mohamed Noor Faez got it right in the 25th and 30th minutes.

In the second half, BPSS let their guard down in defence and paid the price. Mohamed Azam Azman pulled a goal back for MBPJ in the 54th and Tuan Abdul Walid equalised in the 60th minute. A minute later, Mohamed Azam struck the winner for MBPJ.

In Division Two, MSSM KL lost ground in their chase for the title when they were beaten 1-2 by Clifford School-Selia Group at the Sultan Azlan Shah Stadium in Ipoh.

The KL side went into the match in third place in the standings on 16 points and Clifford dented their bid to close the gap on leaders MSS Kelantan and MSN Malacca with a late goal.

Clifford had taken the lead in the 31st minute through Mohamed Nashriq Mozni but Mohamed Aidik Zainan equalised for MSSM KL in the 51st minute. Mohamed Azrul Fazri gave the Perak side their second win in the competition with a goal in the 61st minute.