KUALA LUMPUR: Bukit Jalil Sports School (BJSS) coach S. Prakash has conceded his team have lost the race for the Division One title in the MHF-Milo-NSC Junior Hockey League after they drew 1-1 with leaders Universiti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL) at the Tun Razak Stadium last night.
It was the second successive draw for the defending champions, who played to a 2-2 stalemate against Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) at the same venue on Friday.
Prakash said that the advantage was now with UniKL and Bandar Penawar Sports School (BPSS)-Thunderbolt.
“We are down by four points and it will be difficult to win the title now. We still have to play against BPSS-Thunderbolt. The way I see it, either UniKL or BPSS-Thunderbolt will win the title,” he said.
“UniKl are a good side and they have very good players. We have to ensure that we win the next two matches to keep up the pressure on the two leading teams. We must at least finish second.”
BJSS had control of the match in the first half and took the lead in the 25th minute through a penalty corner taken by Kavin Kartik.
UniKL equalised in the 46th minute with their top scorer, Mohamed Sabri Mohamed, flicking home a penalty corner. It was his 12th goal of the season – all from penalty corners.
UniKL, who won all their five previous matches, now have two matches more to play – against BPSS-Thunderbolt on May 7 and against BPSS Juniors on May 21.
At the Sultan Azlan Hockey Stadium in Ipoh, Anderson hopes of making the quarter-finals were dented when they were beaten 0-5 by BPSS Juniors.
A win would have virtually sealed Anderson a place among the top five. The Perak side have completed their fixtures with 10 points and BPSS Juniors will pip them to a place in the quarter-finals if they can two of their remaining three matches.
BPSS Juniors scored their win over Anderson with goals by Mohamed Shahzril Saabah (6th), Amir Zulkarnian (32nd), Mohamed Khairul Adha (34th), Mohamed Hanif Azemi (35th) and Mohamed Dzahiruddin (59th).
MBPJ overtook Anderson on goal difference when they recorded their third win and moved to 10 points with a game in hand. MBPJ defeated MSS Kelantan 4-1 at the Kuala Terengganu Stadium.
The top five teams in Division One and the top three in Division Two qualify for the knockout stage.
