Experience clearly played a crucial role for the UniKL Hockey team after they failed to register their first three points in the Premier Division of Malaysian Hockey League (TNB-MHL).
Arul Selvaraj’s team lost 1-0 against Community Shield champions, Kuala Lumpur Hockey Club (KLHC), in a match held at the Bukit Jalil National Hockey Stadium.
Going into the match as underdogs, UniKL gave an unexpected fight, as goalkeeper Khairulnizam Ibrahim frustrated the attacks from KLHC.
However, the UniKL fortress finally found its match when former player, Muhammad Noor Faeez Ibrahim, found a way pass the keeper from a penalty corner in the 26th minute.
Shaken by the opening goal, UniKL came back strongly but KLHC defended well, with national captain Razie Rahim leading the defensive line.
The defeat puts UniKL in fifth place, only separated from sixth place Maybank through a better goal difference.
KLHC, on the other hand, move on top of the table ahead of second placed Sapura after the win.
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