D-day for Kuala Lumpur

KELANTAN edged closer to the National Under-14 semi-finals when they whitewashed Sabah 8-1 in Group B at the Kuala Lumpur HA Stadium yesterday.
Perak, on the other hand, completed their fixtures by beating Kedah 2-0 and topping Group B without a blemish in six matches.
And with Terengganu having sealed the top spot in Group A, today will see a keen tussle for the second spot, as Kuala Lumpur, Johor and Negri Sembilan have a chance of playing in the semi-finals.
KL play Malacca first, and a win will seal their semis spot, but if they lose, Negri and Johor will get their chance next when they meet Perlis and Terengganu respectively.
RESULTS: Group B -- Kedah 0 Perak 2, Kelantan 8 Sabah 1, Pahang 0 Penang 2.
TODAY: Group A -- Kuala Lumpur v Malacca (3pm), Negri Sembilan v Perlis (5pm), Johor v Terengganu (7pm).
Group B: Selangor v Sabah (3pm), Kedah v Penang (5pm), Kelantan v Pahang (7pm).

GROUP A

STANDINGS

P W D L F A Pts
TERENGGANU 4 4 0 0 25 4 12
K LUMPUR 4 2 1 1 18 4 7
JOHOR 4 2 1 1 8 6 7
N. SEMBILAN 4 2 0 2 7 9 6
MALACCA 4 1 0 3 11 15 3
PERLIS 4 0 0 4 2 33 0

GROUP B
P W D L F A Pts
PERAK 6 6 0 0 22 4 18
KELANTAN 5 3 1 1 17 9 10
SELANGOR 5 2 2 1 14 12 8
PENANG 5 2 1 2 14 7 7
PAHANG 5 2 0 3 8 12 6
SABAH 4 1 0 3 2 14 3
KEDAH 5 0 0 5 3 15 0

Dark and stormy before Challenge

MALAYSIA are assured of a quarter-finals slot in the eight-team Champions Challenge II starting today in South Africa, but that is not what they are there for.
Coach Tai Beng Hai is more interested in quality matches, to make his team stronger in the run-up to the Olympic Qualifier in Ireland.
The International Hockey Federation (FIH) drew a fixture which will see every team reach the quarter-finals, even if they lose all three group matches.
Malaysia open accounts against Canada today, followed by Japan tomorrow and Argentina on Monday.
“Winning all three matches in the group stages will be meaningless if we fail to win in the quarter-finals and end up playing in the fifth-eight bracket.
“That is why this tournament is unique, and offers teams a chance to prove themselves in one crucial match,” said team manager George Koshy.
But having said that, Koshy is more interested in the qualify field assembled in South Africa.
“We are more interested in playing against quality sides in the run up to the Olympic Qualifier, and with the best 18 selected for this assignment, we will play to achieve our target of being in the top-five bracket,” said Koshy.
Torrential rain has hit South Africa in the last few days, and Malaysia’s friendly against South Africa was rained off after 15 minutes and the score stood at 1-1. Firhan Ashaari, 18-years-old, scored for Malaysia.
“All friendly matches were hit by rain and pitch flooding, but that is not a problem as we came prepared,” said Koshy.
MALAYSIA: S. Kumar (gk), Roslan Jamaluddin (gk), Izzat Rahim, Azammi Adabi, Amin Rahim, Marhan Jalil, Izwan Firdaus, Madzli Ikmar, Faizal Saari, Shahrun Nabil, Sukri Mutalib, Firhan Ashari, Azlan Misron, Razie Rahim (Capt), Hafifi Hafiz Hanafi, Baljit Singh, Tengku Ahmad Tajuddin, Azreen Rizal.
Coach: Tai Beng Hai; Team Manager: George Koshy.
TODAY: Group A: India v Belgium (9pm), South Africa v Poland (11pm).
Group B: Canada v Malaysia (5pm), Argentina v Japan (7pm).
TOMORROW: Group A: Belgium v Poland (9pm), South Africa v India (11pm).
Group B: Argentina v Canada (5pm), Malaysia v Japan (7pm).
MONDAY: Group A: India v Poland (9pm), Belgium v South Africa (11pm).
Group B: Canada v Japan (5pm), Malaysia v Argentina (7pm).
NOTE: Malaysian time.

Pahang and Armed Forces final

PAHANG will meet Armed Forces in the final of the Fifth Raja Noora Ashikin Cup at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil today.
In the semi-finals yesterday, Pahang breezed past Police 4-0, while Armed Forces beat KL Sukma 4-1.
It will be Pahang’s first appearance in the final of the RNA Cup since its inception in 2000, and their best finish was third in 2005.
And in the Group stages, Pahang could only beat Armed Forces 1-0, indicating that even though they have seven national players, it is going to be a close encounter.
Police gave Pahang a tough time in the first 35 minutes: “We knew it was a matter of time before our strikers crash their defence and being patient paid off handsomely,” said Pahang coach C. Sreedharan.
Pahang got their break in the second half with goals from Fazilla Slvester Silin (46th), Nuraini Abdul Rashid (53rd, 69th) and Nor Hasliza Ali (65th).
The Armed Forces goals were scored by Nadia Abdul Rahman (25th, 55th), Siti Rodiah Tumin (34th), Izzuin Ismail (43rd). The KL Sukma goal was scored by Zhulaili Zakaria in the 65th minute.
RESULTS -- Semi-finals: Pahang 4 Police 0, Armed Forces 4 KL Sukma 1.
TODAY: Final -- Pahang v Armed Forces (6.30pm, Live on Astro Arena CH801); Third-Fourth: KL Sukma v Police (4pm).