Terengganu-pahang in Razak Cup final
Brothers score a goal each to put Terengganu in the final
KUALA LUMPUR: Saari brothers Faizal and Fitri are simply incredible. They again played vital roles to score a goal in each half to steer Terengganu to a stunning 2-1 win over defending champions Kuala Lumpur and qualify for their first ever Division One final in the Razak Cup hockey tournament.
It was sweet revenge for Terengganu, who lost to KL by the same margin in the semifinals in Malacca last year.
The diminutive Faizal, gave Terengganu the lead off their first penalty corner flick in the 30th minute. It was his eighth goal of the tournament.
But KL, powered by several national players, fought back to equalise in the 50th minute off a penalty corner set-piece by Mohd Yazid Yusof.
Ten minutes later Faizal’s younger brother Fitri, scored the winning goal for Terengganu off a deflection from a pass by Mohd Firhan Ashaari.
Terengganu will face last year’s finalists Pahang in the final today. Pahang who lost to KL 1-0 in the final last year, came back from a goal down to edge Negri Sembilan 3-2 in the other semi-final.
It will be the first time in the 50-year history of the tournament, two East Coast teams will feature in the final.
However, Pahang paid a heavy price for the win as they will not have the services of defender Mohd Razi Ismail, who broke his left wrist yesterday.
Veteran S. Kuhan gave Negri the lead off a penalty stroke in the 11th minute before Hairul Nizam Abdul Rani equalised for Pahang from a penalty corner in 25th minute.
Pahang stormed back after the breather to take a lead through Mohd Sybrie Shamsuddin in the 52nd minute. And Hairul was on target again to make it 3-2 off a field goal in the 65th minute.
Negri fought back and managed to reduce the deficit in the last minute of the match off a penalty corner via Kuhan again. But it was too little too late.
Terengganu manager Mohamed Saberi was clearly delighted with their win over KL.
“We beat KL in the final to win the our first Sukma (Malaysia Games) title in Kuantan in July and today we created another history as we again beat the favourites and defending champions City team to qualify for our first Division One final,” said Saberi.
Pahang coach Izwan Suhardi said his team were fortunate to reach the final.
“This is the second time we qualify for the final and we also want to create history by winning the Division One title for the first time,” said Izwan.
Meanwhile, Selangor will face Malacca in the Division Two final.