Sleek moves: TNB Thunderbolt’s Mohd Haziq Zunnurain Mohd Azhary (centre) dribbling the ball past Matador players during their 6-2 win yesterday. — Hokita Facebook
PETALING JAYA: Young squad TNB Thunderbolts thrashed the Malaysian Hockey League (MHL) debutants Matador 6-2 yesterday to continue with their fine form.
The Thunderbolts claimed their third win of the season at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil yesterday as head coach M. Kaliswaran praised his team for a flawless execution on the pitch.
“We had about a week to plan for this match and we executed the game plan well. My boys played according to how we wanted to approach this match tactically,” said Kaliswaran.
“They pressed at the right times, stole the ball when the chance was there, and planned their angle of attack.
“That’s why we scored six goals,” he said.
Matador were heading into this match missing several key Pakistani players, who had to return to their country to compete in the domestic league for two matches.
Matador’s defence had completely shut down at the start of the game, as Thunderbolts put three past them before half time.
Shafy Shahymm Huzzeini Shahrul Azran Huzzeini scored just eight minutes into the match through a field goal, before Mohd Danish Irfan Mohd Saufi doubled the lead in the 13th minute.
Five minutes later, national player Azimuddin Syakir Kamaruddin extended the gap through a field goal.
Matador managed to score one of their own before half time as S. Yashvindraa converted a penalty corner in the 28th minute.
But Thunderbolts were quick to widen the margins as Shafy scored his second goal in the 45th minute, before Matador’s Pakistani player Ahmad Shakeel Butt converted a penalty corner five minutes later.
Kaliswaran’s boys sealed the win in the final minutes as Shafy completed his hattrick in the 57th minute after Mohd Haziq Zunnurain Mohd Azhary scored in the 53rd.
“The boys are back into their playing rhythm because these small aspects of the game have been missing.
“The team are now executing what we have been working on the practice field into the game,” he said.
Thunderbolts will play their next match against Australian team Territory Stingers on Feb 5 at Bukit Jalil, while Matador have the challenge of playing Armed Forces the day before.
