Faridzul scores two goals as UniKL down Sabah

Kuala Lumpur (16 March 2021): Universiti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL) thrashed Sabah 4-0 to firmly remain on course for another title in the TNBMHL 2021 Premier League at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil today.

The 2020 treble winners, who successfully retained the Charity Shield two weeks ago, asserted their strength by building up a three-goal lead at the half time interval.

While Sabah took the early initiative to wonder around into their opposition’s territory, UniKL managed to re-group and went on the offensive.

It took UniKL seven minutes into the game to take the lead. Faridzul Afiq Mohd opened scoring from a field goal and doubled it the 23rd minute in a similar fashion, both times catching goalkeeper Muhammad Ridzwan Azmi on the wrong side.

Nur Rahul Hrsikesa Thaitchana Muruthi, who is among several youngsters called up for national team training, increased the score to 3-0 with a powerful grounder shot in the 30th minute from the top of the semicircle.

UniKL continued to dominate the proceedings with repeated forays in the second quarter as the Sabah defence found itself in shambles to keep the strikers at bay. And just before the closing stages of the quarter UniKL earned their third penalty corner. Muhammad Razie Abdul Rahim fully obliged by placing the ball past Ridzwan to give the varsity side a comfortable a 4-0 lead.

Sabah, who suffered an 11-0 thrashing by Terengganu Hockey Team (THT) in their first match, played some good hockey and even earned a penalty corner only to be undone by their more illustrious and experience opponents.

UniKL dominated 80 percent of ball possession throughout the match and had nine goal scoring opportunities. They take on Nurinsafi Hockey Team in the next match on Thursday (18 March 2021).

In other matches, a brace from Muhammad Azrai Aizad Abu Kamal secured Tenaga Nasional Berhad a 4-2 win over TNB Thunderbolts, and Maybank defeated Nurinsafi HT 4-0. Muhammad Najmi Farizal Jazlan (10th and 37th minute) scored both goals for Maybank from penalty corners.

In the last match of the day, Terengganu Hockey Team defeated Universiti Teknologi MARA 4-0 with a hat-trick from Faizal Saari.