DUTCH DELIGHT FOR UNIKL
Hertzberger nails winner in TNB Cup final
Ucolours. NIVERSITI Kuala Lumpur (UniKL) finally passed their biggest hockey test with flying
They lifted their maiden Malaysia Hockey League title when they edged Kuala Lumpur Hockey Club (KLHC) 4-3 in a shootout, after both teams were tied 1-1 at the end of regulation time in the TNB Cup final yesterday.
Dutchman Jeroen Hertzberger was the hero for UniKL as he netted the sudden death shootout goal.
Australian Glenn Turner gave UniKL the lead in the 33rd minute before KLHC equalised three minutes later through South Korean Jang Jong Hyun.
Both teams failed to get the winning goal and the match had to be decided on a penalty shootout.
It started to pour and the rain turned out to be a good omen for UniKL as they finally won the penalty shootout to bag the TNB Cup since making their debut in the MHL in 2011.
“This is a historic win and really we should have wrapped up the match in regulation time,” UniKL coach A. Arulselvaraj said. “All credit to the players and to KLHC as the final was of a high level.
“This win now allows me to move on in life and maybe look for other options as I have delivered as desired.
“I was always confident we could do it even though it went into shootout.”
KLHC coach Lim Chiow Chuan said that it was a closely contested match.
“We played well but the penalty corners let us down,” he said. “Overall I am happy with our players’ performance this season by winning two titles — the Alagendra Cup and the Charity Shield.”
RESULTS — TNB CUP FINAL: KLHC 1 UNIKL 1 (UniKL win 4-3 in sudden death penalty shootout), THIRD PLACING: TENAGA NASIONAL 4 TERENGGANU 3.