KUALA LUMPUR: Mohd Hafizuddin Mat Desa scored a brace to steer Pahang to a convincing 6-2 win over Negri Sembilan in a Group A match to seal a place in the Division One semi-finals of the Razak Cup hockey tournament.
Pahang finished runners-up in the group with six points after two wins and a defeat. They lost 2-1 to defending champions Perak in the opening match before they bounced back to beat Selangor 3-1.
Pahang will play Group B champions Kuala Lumpur in the semi-finals tomorrow. KL topped their group with a 3-1 win over Malacca.
Group A champions Perak play Gorup B runners-up Malacca in the other semi-finals.
Hafizuddin was on target for Pahang in the 48th and 57th minutes. Mohd Sallehin Abdul Ghani (21st), Mohd Haziq Fawwaz Ramli (41st), Ismail Abu (44th) and Hairul Nizam Abdul Rani (70th) netted the other goals.
G. Kavin Kartik (16th) and Mohd Zabad Rosly (53rd) replied for Negri Sembilan.
Pahang coach Izwan Suhardi Selamat said he was forced to field reserve goalkeeper Mohd Amirul Mohd Yusuf as regular Mohd Safiuddin Sharom was injured.
“I’m glad Amirul did not let the team down. He was in top form, making a number of brilliant saves,” said Izwan.
Perak topped Group A by coming back from a goal down to hold Selangor to a 2-2 draw.
Mohd Harris Fadila gave Perak the lead in the fourth minute, but Selangor stormed back to score through Faridzul Afiq (26th) and Amir Zulkarnain (38th). Amir Farid scored Perak’s equaliser in the 60th minute.
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