02/12/2025

SPORTS TUESDAY | DEC 2, 2025

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D OMESTIC serial winners Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) believe that Sunday night’s 2-0 semifinal, return-leg win over Kuching City FC is just the right tonic ahead of their FA Cup final against Sabah FC on Dec 14. Southern Tigers head coach Xisco Munoz lauded his team for a strong performance and character throughout the match against Kuching City at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium, Iskandar Puteri, Johor, cre ating numerous chances and main taining control from start to finish. He stressed that while the 4-1 aggregate victory was important, it was equally vital that they display the same level of commitment, character and intensity in the final against Sabah. “One of the things the team can do moving forward is to close games efficiently and make the most of the chances created. When you have many chances, you must kill off the game,” he said at the post-match press conference.

JDT get perfect boost Munoz hails FA Cup semifinal win over Kuching FC

RESULTS & STANDINGS

ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE: Aston Villa 1 (Kamara 67) Wolves 0, Chelsea 1 (Chalobah 48) Arsenal 1 (Merino 59) , Crystal Palace 1 (Mateta 36-pen) Manchester United 2 (Zirkzee 54, Mount 63) , Nottingham Forest 0 Brighton 2 (De Cuyper 45+1, Tzimas 88) , West Ham 0 Liverpool 2 (Isak 60, Gakpo 90+2) . P W D L F A Pts Arsenal 13 9 3 1 25 7 30 Man City 13 8 1 4 27 12 25 Chelsea 13 7 3 3 24 12 24 Aston Villa 13 7 3 3 16 11 24 Brighton 13 6 4 3 21 16 22 Sunderland 13 6 4 3 17 13 22 Man Utd 13 6 3 4 21 20 21 Liverpool 13 7 0 6 20 20 21 Crystal Palace 13 5 5 3 17 11 20 Brentford 13 6 1 6 21 20 19 Bournemouth 13 5 4 4 21 23 19 Tottenham 13 5 3 5 21 16 18 Newcastle 13 5 3 5 17 16 18 Everton 13 5 3 5 14 17 18 Fulham 13 5 2 6 15 17 17 Nottm Forest 13 3 3 7 13 22 12 West Ham 13 3 2 8 15 27 11 Leeds 13 3 2 8 13 25 11 Burnley 13 3 1 9 15 27 10 Wolves 13 0 2 11 7 28 2 LA LIGA: Real Sociedad 2 (Soler 61, Barrenetxea 87) Villarreal 3 (Perez 31, Moleiro 57, 90+5) , Sevilla 0 Real Betis 2 (Fornals 54, Altimira 69) , Celta Vigo 0 Espanyol 1 (Garcia 86) , Girona 1 (Ounahi 45) Real Madrid 1 (Mbappe 67-pen) . TOP 6 P W D L F A Pts Barcelona 14 11 1 2 39 16 34 Real Madrid 14 10 3 1 29 13 33 Villarreal 14 10 2 2 29 13 32 A. Madrid 14 9 4 1 27 11 31 Real Betis 14 6 6 2 22 14 24 Espanyol 14 7 3 4 18 16 24 SERIE A: Atalanta 2 (Kossounou 41, Lookman 52) Fiorentina 0, Lecce 2 (Coulibaly 20, Banda 22) Torino 1 (Adams 57) , Pisa 0 Inter Milan 2 (Martinez 69, 83) , Roma 0 Napoli 1 (Neres 36) . TOP 6 P W D L F A Pts AC Milan 13 8 4 1 19 9 28 Napoli 13 9 1 3 20 11 28 Roma 13 9 0 4 15 7 27 Inter Milan 13 9 0 4 28 13 27 Bologna 12 7 3 2 21 8 24 Como 13 6 6 1 19 7 24 BUNDESLIGA: Freiburg 4 Mainz 0, Eintracht Frankfurt 1 Wolfsburg 1, Hamburg 2 Stuttgart 1. TOP 6 P W D L F A Pts B. Munich 12 11 1 0 44 9 34 RB Leipzig 12 8 2 2 22 13 26 B. Dortmund 12 7 4 1 21 11 25 B. Leverkusen 12 7 2 3 28 17 23 Hoffenheim 12 7 2 3 25 17 23 Stuttgart 12 7 1 4 21 17 22 FRENCH LIGUE 1: Strasbourg 1 Brest 2, Angers 1 Lens 2, Le Havre 0 Lille 1, Lori ent 3 Nice 1, Lyon 3 Nantes 0. TOP 6 P W D L F A Pts Lens 14 10 1 3 24 12 31 Paris SG 14 9 3 2 27 12 30 Marseille 14 9 2 3 35 14 29 Lille 14 8 2 4 28 17 26 Rennes 14 6 6 2 24 18 24 Lyon 14 7 3 4 21 15 24

team like JDT in the semi-finals. But, at the end of the day, the boys gave their best and showed that they have the quality to play against a big team,” he added. In Sunday’s match, JDT scored through Bergson Da Silva (25th minute) and Eddy Israfilov (82nd minute). In the other semifinal return-leg match, Sabah FC and 10-man Selangor FC had to go through a dramatic penalty shootout after they were tied 3-3 for the night and 5-5 on aggregate at the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) Stadium. Sabah then created history by qualifying for the FA Cup final for the first time, prevailing 5-4 in the shootout. – Bernama Young Tigers get hit for six THE national men’s junior hockey squad suffered their first loss after falling 6-0 to the Netherlands in their second Group E match of the 2025 Junior World Cup in Tamil Nadu, India, on Sunday. In the match held at the Madurai International Hockey Stadium, Nor Saiful Zaini’s boys, who defeated Austria 5-1 on Saturday, were unable to contain the relentless attacks of the Dutch side who are also two-time runners-up. The Netherlands went ahead as early as the ninth minute through a field goal by Casper van der Veen, before the same player doubled their lead a minute later. Joppe Wolbert compounded the Young Tigers’ misery further with two goals within a minute, a penalty corner in the 20th minute and a penalty stroke in the 21st minute. Thies Bakker then put the Dutch comfortably ahead at 5–0 with a field goal in the 28th minute, before Tjeerd Boermans completed the team’s emphatic victory in the 42nd minute. After two matches, the Netherlands lead Group E with six points, while England sits second, sharing three points with Malaysia in third place, and Austria is fourth without any points. Malaysia will next face England in their third match today. – Bernama

and upholding the club’s values. Meanwhile, Kuching City FC head coach Aidil Sharin Sahak admitted that the match against JDT was a tough ask, acknowledging the champions as being stronger and more established. “JDT are always a better team compared to us. We are a new club working to get better every year. And I think we have already created his tory by reaching the semifinals, which is already a big moment for the club,” he said. Aidil Sharin, while acknowledg ing the challenges his team faced with a limited squad and the absence of key players, praised his team for pushing JDT to the limit. “It’s unfortunate that we faced a

He also reflected on the absence of star player Arif Aiman Mohd Hanapi due to injury and the club’s efforts to ensure his full recovery ahead of the FA Cup title showdown. “I miss him 100%. Arif is one of the best players in Asia. Losing a player of his quality is always diffi cult. “We are working very hard to get him back to full fitness. The positive thing is that when he returns, he will come back stronger, and that is what matters the most,” he said. As for their Asean Club Championship (ACC) match against Preah Khan Reach Svay Rieng FC at the Morodok Techno National Stadium in Cambodia on Thursday, Munoz emphasised focus, intensity

Belgium’s Roman Duvekot (right) controls the ball and is pushed by India’s Sanjay during the 31st Sultan Azlan Shah Cup at the Azlan Shah Hockey Stadium yesterday. – BERNAMAPIC

Triumphant return for Belgium

Ű BY P. CHANDRA SAGARAN

away. “We came here in 2008 and only managed sixth spot but today we are champion,” he added. Indian coach Craig Fulton said: “It was a tough and entertaining match for the fans… we could not get the one goal to go to the next level. “Credit to Belgium for the victory… nevertheless I am sure the youngsters have learned a lot from this experi ence. “This tournament provides the best opportunities for the teams and we move on to our training for the World Cup and Asian Games,” he added. Meanwhile,New Zealand’s Sam Lane received the top scorer award with nine goals. The Kiwis took third spot after they defeated Malaysia 6-1. Korea who finished at the bottom of the table had some consolation when they took home the Fair Play award.

winners with Korea in 2010, tried hard to win the match. First half saw both teams missing several chances. Belgium came to a Ipoh with a reputation of coming runners-up in the FIH Men’s 2024-2025 Pro League. It was more celebration for Belgium when Vincent Vanasch was declared the Best Goalkeeper, fol lowed by Tom Boon who was named the Player of the Tournament. Belgium coach Shane McLeod said: “We are happy and excited with the victory… it was a tough game. India has always been a strong team. “It is always wonderful to have European teams like Belgium, and other team such as New Zealand and Australia including Asian teams com pete in this beautiful tournament. “This victory comes at a moment when we are preparing for the new FIH Pro League which is just 10 days

BELGIUM made a triumphant return to the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup Invitational Hockey Tournament to lifted the trophy after they edged India 1-0 in a thrilling final at Azlan Shah Hockey Stadium in Ipoh, Perak on Sunday night. Thibeau Stockbroekx’s 34th minute goal was good enough for them to emerge champion in the six nation tournament after a 17-year hiatus. The intense match, which was graced by Sultan of Perak Sultan Nazrin Shah and Raja Permaisuri Perak Tuanku Zara Salim, attracted some 3,000 spectators. The world No. 3 ranked Belgians competed in 2008 and finished sixth but this time around they made sure to take home the trophy. India, who have won the Cup five times, the last being declared as joint

New Zealand deny Malaysia third spot in Sultan Azlan Shah Cup

NEW ZEALAND captured third place at the expense of hosts Malaysia after they defeated their opponents 6-1 at the 31st edition of the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup Invitational Hockey Tournament at Azlan Shah Hockey Stadium on Sunday. The Kiwis, champions in 2012 and 2015 are taking back the bronze medal home for the seventh time. The homesters were two-goals down after just

tournament and performance,” he added. Earlier Canada who are making their 11th appearance edged Korea 4-3 for the fifth and sixth placing. Canada goals came from Sean Davies (11th, 49th min), Brendan Gyraliuk (43rd , 53rd min). Korea playing for the 23rd time found the net through Yang Jihun(18th min), Kim Hyeonhong (58th, 60th min) – P. Chandra Sagaran

“We could have scored a few goals but no finishing,” he added, with Kiwi keeper Leon Hayward proving a stumbling block to Malaysian players. Sarjit’s counterpart Greg Nicol said: “We plan to play the best hockey on the last day of the tournament. Malaysia always a tough team to play at home. “Obviously we are looking back at the

seven minutes. Kiwi skipper Sam Lane found the net five times in the fifth, seventh, 33rd, 34th and 41st minute. The other goal was scored by James Hickson in the 29th minute. Malaysia’s lone goal came from Faizal Shaari in the 43rd minute. Malaysian coach Sarjit Singh said: “We conceded two early goals and tried to chase but gave away the third. By then the boys knew the game was going to be tough .