MHL : Ernst and Young land elusive MHL overall title in seventh attempt

Ernst and Young finally nailed an elusive Malaysia Hockey League (MHL) overall title in their seventh attempt.

But it was a close call for them as they blew a two-goal lead to allow Sapura to force a 2-2 draw and take the match into a penalty shootout. But their better pick of players for the shootout allowed them to scrap through for a 5-4 win.



Ernst and Young were playing in their sixth consecutive final. They were also the finalists in 2001. In the last two years, they were beaten in the final on a shootout. But they prevailed this time with the tournament’s top scorer, Baljit Singh, scoring the winner.

Sapura fought back with Jiwa Mohan starring for them with two late goals to salvage the match. They also held out in extra time. But it all ended when K. Keevan Raj saw his last flick saved by goalkeeper Khairul Nizam Ibrahim.

Before that Sapura had scored through Jiwa, Song Seung-tae, Mohamed Redza Maadun and S. Shanker.

For Ernst and Young, the players who converted their flicks were Mohamed Shukri Mutalib, Nabil Fiqri Mohamed Nor, Tengku Ahmad Tajuddin and Kelvinder Singh.

In winning the overall title, Ernst and Young also became the seventh team to clinch the double after Kilat Club (Tenaga), Maybank, Yayasan Negri Sembilan, MPPJ, Bank Simpanan Nasional and Sapura. Ernst and Young were also the winners of the Asian Champion Clubs tournament last month.

But it could all have gone wrong for them yesterday as Sapura made a late surge.

Ernst and Young drew first blood in the 27th minute when Baljit made sure of his flick from a penalty corner set piece. That saw them gaining in confidence but they failed to increase their lead in the first half.

In the 41st minute, Ernst and Young scored their second goal with Mohamed Shahrun Nabil turning in a cross into the D by Chua Boon Huat.

Sapura fought back and Jiwa Mohan scored a field goal in the 56th minute to put pressure on the league champions. Before that, Sapura had muffed four penalty corner chances. But just as the match was heading for a Ernst and Young victory, Sapura earned a penalty corner in the 68th minute and Jiwa made no mistake with his attempt to send the match into extra time.