Hockey

Negri women grab Charity Shield with thrilling win

KUALA LUMPUR: Negri Sembilan snatched the Charity Shield from the jaws of UniTen Thunderbolts after both teams ended tied 1-1 in the women's Malaysia Hockey League today.

League champions Negri and Overall winners UniTen shared a point each in the curtain raiser, but the Charity Shield was won by coach K. Rajan's team with a nail biting 2-1 score.

Last season's top scorer on 20 goals, Nuramirah Shakirah, got a field goal in the 29th minute and the score remained until the 57th minute before Raja Norsharina nailed the equaliser off a penalty corner attempt.

In the shootout, Negri's goals were scored by Nurfatin Dizana and Fatin Shafika while Nurmaizatul Hanim scored for UniTen.

"I wanted the three points to start off our League defence, but my players failed to convert some of the chances that came their way, and they paid the price with a draw.

"In the end it was still a good turnout for us, as we won the first silverware of the season," said Negri coach K. Rajan.

National trainee goalkeeper Mashitah Khalid put up a super show in regulation time as well as in the shootout for Negri.

"In my heart, my goalkeeper Mashitah is the player of the match as she made many saves in 60 minutes, and then put up a brave front in the shootout.

"However, our seven national players were a little rusty and this was their first competitive match.

"But I believe my players will pick up after this match as we aim to defend our Leage title," said Rajan.

Terengganu Hockey Team lifted the men's Charity Shield with a 4-3 score when they beat Tenaga Nasional in a rain- disrupted match. The score was 3-3 with four minutes to a shootout when South Korean Jang Jong Hyun delivered a penalty corner winner in the 58th minute to seal three valuable points as well as the Charity Shield.

RESULTS: MEN: Charity Shield: Terengganu HT 4 Tenaga National 3; NurInsafi Sporting 2 UITM HA-KPT 6; Maybank 10 TNB Thunderbolts 0; Armed Forces 0 Young Tigers 2. WOMEN: Charity Shield: Negri Sembilan 1 UniTen Thunderbolts 1 (Negri won shoot-out 2-1

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