NAM-YONG HITS WINNING PENALTY AS KLHC LIFT CUP
South Korean hits winning penalty in shootout as KLHC lift Cup
KUALA LUMPUR: South Korean Lee Namyong was the toast of Kuala Lumpur Hockey Club (KLHC) after he hit the suddendeath penalty shooutout goal for their first Tan Sri P. Alagendra Cup.
KLHC edged defending champions Terengganu 43 in the final at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil yesterday.
The match had to be decided in a penalty shootout after both teams failed to break the 33 deadlock in regulation time.
The score was also tied at 33 after the first five penalties.
In the match, KLHC scored their goals through Namyong, Moer Muhamad Azuan Hassan and Haziq Samsul while Terengganu netted via Faizal Saari, Ahmad Shakeel Butt and Joaqin Menini.
In the suddendeath shootout, Namyong scored while national forward Faizal’s attempt was saved by KLHC goalkeeper Roslan Jamaluddin.
Both teams went home with RM50,000 each.
Both teams had equal chances in the final. However, it was tough luck for Terengganu’s world class penalty corner expert Gonzalo Peillat of Argentina as two of his flicks hit the cross bar.
Terengganu got off to an explosive start in the first quarter by netting two quick goals in two minutes.
Peillat gave Terengganu the lead in the 10th minute off a penalty corner.
Just a minute later, Peillat’s push from the top of the semicircle was well connected into goal by Manraj Singh, who is the son of Terengganu coach Sarjit Singh.
That was a wakeup call for KLHC, powered by seven national players and six foreigners, and they managed to pull one back in the 18th minute off a penalty corner through South Korean Jang Jonghyun.
KLHC equalised from another penalty corner minutes later after Muhd Razie Abdul Rahim’s low flick was connected into goal by Mohd Syamim Mohd Yusof.
KLHC took the lead in the 34th minute with a superb reverse stick goal from Joshua Pollard.
Terengganu did not give up and drew level in the 53rd minute from the penalty spot through Peillat.
The Argentinian, who sent national goalkeeper Muhd Hafizuddin Othman the wrong way to make it 33, was named man of the match.
KLHC coach Lim Chiow Chuan praised his players for their determination after bouncing back from a twogoal deficit to take a 32 lead.
“It was anybody’s game in the penalty shootout but I’m glad we managed to score in the sudden death to win our first Tan Sri P. Alagendra Cup,” said Chiow Chuan.
Terengganu coach Sarjit Singh said they were a bit unlucky as two of their penalty corners hit the bar.
“Both teams played well and congratulations to KLHC.
“We’ll now focus on our attempt to win the Premier Division title,” said Sarjit.