Anderson rout Datuk Taha

SEREMBAN: Defending champions Anderson of Perak and Kelantan’s Hamzah Machang, as expected, qualified for the final of the 17th Champion Schools hockey tournament at the Seremban Two Hockey Stadium here today - but they did it in contrasting styles.

Anderson trounced Datuk Taha 5-2 in the first semi-final while Hamzah had to endure extra time in their match against SAB College before winning 3-2 off a golden goal.

The winning goal came in the 74th minute, thanks to a penalty stroke conversion by Mohamed Firdaus Othman.

This is the second time Anderson and Hamzah are meeting in the final. Their last encounter in 1999 went in favour of the Kelantan side.
This time, though, Anderson seem to have the upper hand, with their remarkable run of 29 matches unbeaten in the Champion Schools series.

They have not been beaten since that 1999 final and have won the title four time since then. Today, they could make it five in a row.

Anderson coach Mokhtar Baharuddin said they were proud of their record and would like to see it kept for the final.

“It will be a difficult record to break. We have been unbeaten since the 1999 final and there were two seasons in 2002 and 2003 when we did not even concede a goal.

“The main thing tomorrow (today) is to win and win the title. It does not matter which team we play,” he said.
Yesterday, Anderson just took eight minutes to open the scoring. Mohamed Ali Zakuan dribbled into the D and sent a hefty shot at goal which sailed past a sea of legs and goalkeeper R. Viknesh.

That put them completely in command and soon they were attacking incessantly.

In the 15th minute, off their fourth penalty corner, Anderson increased their lead with Mohamed Razali flicking the ball high past Viknesh. Three minutes later, Razali scored his sixth goal of the tournament off a field attempt.

In the 33rd minute Mohamed Hafiz scored off a penalty corner but the match was far from over.

Datuk Taha decided to discard their defensive strategy and go on the attack.

This provided some positive results and S. Vimalan and S. Muniandy scored in the 41st and 64th minutes respectively. {mosgoogle}

But the two goals woke up Anderson and Mohamed Noor Khairul put the issue to rest with a strike in the 67th minute, off a penalty corner.

Anderson coach Mokhtar said that the early goals helped them to pace themselves.

But he was furious with the boys’ second half performance.

“They took it too easy and allowed their concentration to waver at crucial moments. We cannot allow this to happen in the final,” he said.

The Hamzah and SAB College match proved to be an absorbing contest. Hamzah took the lead in the 11th minute through Mohamed Amir Shamsukhdir and this was followed by a field goal by Mohamed Firdaus Othman in the 17th minute.

SAB, however, kept up the pressure and Hang Edzhar was their hero with two goals in the 20th and 40th minute. But four minutes into extra time Firdaus settled the issue when Hamzah received a penalty stroke.

BY S. RAMAGURU

Source : TheStar.com.my

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