UniKL bury TNB with late charge to reach final

Kuala Lumpur (31 March 2021): Defending champions Universiti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL) rallied back from a goal down to defeat Tenaga Nasional Berhad 3-1 in the return leg semi-finals to advance into Saturday’s final of the TNB Cup.

The varsity team won the two-leg semi-finals 4-1 on aggregate and now go into a showdown with Terengganu Hockey Team for the title at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil.

THT defeated Maybank 2-1 in the second-leg semi-finals earlier to confirm their slot in the final 4-1 on aggregate.

The varsity team was earlier held to a scoreless draw by TNB in the Charity Shield on March 12 but prevailed 4-3 in a dramatic penalty shootout to foil TNB’s bid. They won the first-leg TNB Cup semi-finals 1-0 thanks to a 56th minute penalty stroke strike by Tengku Ahmad Tajuddin Tengku Abdul Jalil.

The return leg, however, was no less dramatic with remarkable performance from both sides. UniKL earned two penalty corners in the first half. Muhamad Razie Abdul Rahim’s first attempt was cleared by the defence while his powerful drive in the second was palmed away by national junior goalkeeper Che Sharul Azmi Che Saupi.

TNB mounted a strong challenge and saw numerous chances squandered. Like UniKL, TNB also earned three penalty corners but goalkeeper Adrian Andy Albert was in his element locking out every shot that came his way.

It was TNB who drew first blood as Muhammad Shamir fired tem ahead in the 32nd minute from a field goal strike.

UniKL rallied back feverishly in the fourth quarter in search of the equaliser and clawed back to level score from their fifth penalty corner attempt. It came in the 46th minute from a brilliant set piece that was scored by Muhammad Hafiz Zainol.

The 2020 treble winners continued to pile the pressure on TNB and saw their efforts paid dividends when team captain Mohamad Marhan Mohd Jalil turned in another penalty corner set piece in the 53rd minute to give UniKL a 2-1 lead for the first time in the match.

Drag-flick specialist Razie Rahim extended the score 3-1 in the 59th minute by converting UniKL’s sixth penalty corner of the match after failing in earlier attempts.

And as the clock ticked away UniKL hanged on for another famous victory and a place in Saturday’s TNB Cup final.