THT COMPLETE 'DOUBLE DOUBLE'

Terengganu Hockey Team (THT) did the double for the second season running after winning the TNB Cup by defeating Kuala Lumpur Hockey Club (KLHC) 5-4 via penalty shootouts during the final played at the Bukit Jalil National Hockey Stadium last night.

Both teams were deadlocked at the end of regulation time after Faizal Saari had scored from a penalty corner for THT but two minutes later Razie Rahim levelled things up, also from a penalty corner routine.

KLHC goalkeeper, Roslan Jamaluddin played a blinder to deny more goals for THT and during the shootouts he continued to be a pivotal figure as he denied the Terengganu side from scoring easily.

However it was his counterpart, Mohamad Hafizuddin who became the hero after he denied Mohamad Syamim from scoring in the sudden death phase and THT added the cup to the Premier League title they won earlier, repeating the feat they did last year.

Apart from the RM70 thousand prize money, THT also won the Fairplay award and Faizal emerged as the tournament topscorer while his brother, Fitri was named as Player of the Tournament.

Roslan was named as the Goalkeeper of the Tournament for his displays throughout the 2015 TNB-MHL season.

TURTLES HELD IN MALAYSIA CUP OPENER

Terengganu did not get the good start they were wishing for last night when they were held to a goalless draw by JDT II at the Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin Shah Stadium.

Missing the suspended Issey Nakajima the home side struggled to get past JDT II defence marshalled by Baihakki Kaizan and well supported by Mohamad Afiq.

Norshahrul Idlan Talaha was given the responsibility to lead the Terengganu attack with support coming from Ashari Samsuddin and Ismail Faruqi.

As usual, Gustavo Lopez was the centre of most Terengganu attacking moves but the packed away defence saw most of his passes failed to really open up the JDT II rearguard.

Fakhrurazi Musa, Norshahrul, Ashari and Lopez all saw their efforts on JDT II goal missing the target. In fact, the home side did not win a single corner kick in the first half while Nenad Bacina's boys managed to squeeze a few from their counter-attacks.

The second half saw the introductions of Sharin Sapien and Hafizal Mohamad for Fakhrurazi and Helmi Remeli respectively.

However it did not change the complexion of the match with Terengganu continue failing to really trouble the visitors' defence with their wayward shooting.

Sharbinee Allawee had to be on his best to deny two good shots by JDT II players from going past him and then had the fortune smiling on him when Shahril Ishak shot went past the wrong side of the post.

In stoppage time, the home fans thought they would be seeing the goal they have been waiting for when referee, Zulkifli Ahmad awarded Terengganu a penalty after Ahmad Nordin Alias was brought down in the penalty area.

It was The Turtles first penalty since May when Paolo Rangel won and converted a penalty during their FA Cup semi final, second leg match against the Lions XII.

With Rangel missing from the line-up due to his suspension when his aggressive behaviour against the match officials during that match, Lopez stepped up to the plate.

The Argentine chose precision over power. His effort was going in until JDT II goalkeeper, Zulfadhli managed to get his hand on it, pushing the ball against the post.

It then rolled agonisingly on the line before it was eventually cleared by a JDT II defender and the final whistle was blown immediately leaving more than 13 thousand home fans with a dejected feeling.

However Group A is still very much open as Fandi Ahmad also failed to get his Lions XII to win all three points at the Jalan Besar Stadium against Premier League champions, Kedah.

The Canaries took the lead with a screamer from Sandro Mendonca in the 15th minute but the home side levelled the score two minutes later through Shahdan Sulaiman.

Group B action had begun on Friday with JDT defeating Perak 2-0 at the Hassan Yunos Stadium with goals from Safee Sali and Chanturu Suppiah in the first half sealing the points for the Southern Tigers.

Last night a stoppage time goal by Joseph Kalang Tie gave Sarawak all three points against the Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM) at the State Stadium in Kuching.

In Group C, Felda United brushed aside T-Team 3-0 at the Selayang Municipal Council Stadium with Ndumba Makeche's brace sandwiching Indra Putra Mahyuddin penalty.

However the form book was reversed at the Shah Alam Stadium when Kelantan registered a 3-0 win over Selangor.

Gilmar headed The Stags in front in the 26th minute. Four minutes into the second half, Augustine Iwuji increased the lead before Gilmar helping himself to his second after a scramble in front of the Selangor goal.

Meanwhile in Kuantan, Dickson Nwakaeme was the toast of the town when he came off the bench to score the winner for the defending champions against the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM).

A hattrick by Azammuddin Akil gave The Elephants a healthy 3-1 lead at the interval with Dramane Trade replying for the visitors.

However The Cops scored twice through brilliant freekicks by Ali Ashfaq and Jamie Braganca to level the score.

It looked like to have spoil the home side plan until Pahang head coach, Zainal Abidin Hassan decided to unleash Nwakaeme for the last ten minutes and it paid off handsomely.

At the Bandaraya Stadium, home side Penang never recovered from two quick goals by PKNS FC. Nazrin Syamsulbahri broke the deadlock in the 17th minute and a minute later Gabriel Guerra made it 2-0.

Nizam Abu Bakar scored the visitor's third nine minutes into the second half to leave The Panthers in tatters.