Negri Sembilan blown away

TERENGGANU upset the form-book when they beat Negri
Sembilan 4-2 in Group B of the National Under-16
hockey tournament in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.
Terengganu now fancy their chances of playing
in the semi-finals as they have seven points from
five matches and have only Perlis and Penang to
play.
"It was a good win and it gives us a glimmer of
hope of making the last four," said team manager
Saberi Salleh.
"As long as we are in with a chance we will give
our very best. Actually this is more of a team for
the future as 15 players are eligible to play in
the Under-14 tournament later this year."
In another Group B match, Kelantan beat
Singapore 3-0. They have 13 points from five
matches and play Perak and Penang to complete their
fixtures.
The Kelantan goals were scored by Aminuddin Zain
(33rd), Irwan Ismail (58th) and Zulfikar Mohamed
(60th).
Negri took the lead in the 13th minute through
Ikwan Ishak, but their joy was short-lived as they
conceded two goals in as many minutes.
Sufi Ismat Rohor Amin put Terengganu level in
the 16th minute, and in the 18th minute he gave
them the lead.
However, Negri drew level in the 30th minute when
Norhafizi Aris converted a penalty corner.
Terengganu regained the lead in the 51st minute
via a penalty corner through Shazwi Rani.
And despite Terengganu playing with nine players
at one stage when Luqman Nul Hakim and Syazuwan
Firdaus were yellow carded, Negri could not
capitalize on the situation.
Asrin Hafizuddin sealed the match for Terengganu
in the 66th minute.
Results: Group A -- Pahang 4 Police 1, Kuala
Lumpur 5 Johor 0, Malacca 0 Sabah 0.
Group B: Negri Sembilan 2 Terengganu 4, Kelantan
3 Singapore 0, Perlis 0 Penang 3, Perak 3 Kedah 1.
TODAY: Group A -- Malacca v Police (5pm),Kuala
Lumpur v Selangor (6.30pm),Johor v Sabah (Ministry
of Education, 6.30pm).
Group B -- Kelantan v Penang (7.30am),Terengganu
v Perlis (9am),Kedah v Singapore (Ministry of
Education, 10am), Perak v Negri Sembilan (3.30pm).

GROUP A

P W D L F A Pts
K LUMPUR 4 4 0 0 25 0 12
MALACCA 4 3 1 0 9 3 10
SELANGOR 4 3 0 1 15 5 9
PAHANG 5 1 1 3 8 20 4
POLICE 5 0 2 3 5 21 2
SABAH 4 0 2 2 3 9 2
JOHOR 4 0 2 2 4 11 2

GROUP B
P W D L F A Pts
PERAK 5 5 0 0 25 4 15
KELANTAN 5 4 1 0 15 2 13
NEGRI 5 3 1 1 18 8 10
TERENGGANU5 2 1 2 16 14 7
KEDAH 5 1 2 29 11 5
PENANG 5 1 1 3 7 12 4
SINGAPORE 5 1 0 4 3 22 3
PERLIS 5 0 0 5 1 21 0

Costly miss for Negri Sembilan

NEGRI Sembilan wasted a golden opportunity to close in on a semi-final berth when they were held 1-1 by Kelantan in a National Under-16 Group B match at the Kuala Lumpur HA Stadium yesterday.
A penalty stroke miss by Norhafizi Aris put paid to Negri's hopes of a win.
Negri coach Maidin Mohamad knows that it will now be tough for them to make the last four as they have matches against Terengganu, Perak and Kedah over the next three days.
"We really should have won this match and have now made it more difficult for ourselves," said Maidin.
Kelantan went ahead in the 39th minute through Shafiq Ikhwan who scrambled the ball over the line when the Negri keeper failed to clear.
In the 53rd minute Negri were presented with a golden chance to equalise when they were awarded a penalty stroke, but Norhafizi sent his attempt wide.
However, Negri were not to be denied their point when Raziq Rizlan scored from a penalty corner in the 59th minute.
RESULTS -- Group A: Kuala Lumpur 6 Pahang 0, Selangor 1 Malacca 2, Police 2 Sabah 2.
Group B: Negri Sembilan 1 Kelantan 1, Perak 8 Perlis 0, Kedah 2 Terengganu 2, Penang 0 Singapore 1.
TODAY -- Group A: Pahang v Police (Ministry of Education, 8.30am), Kuala Lumpur v Johor (9am), Malacca v Sabah (Ministry of Education, 9am).
Group B: Negri Sembilan v Terengganu (3.30pm), Kelantan v Singapore (5pm), Perlis v Penang (6.30pm), Perak v Kedah (Ministry of Education, 6.30pm).