HOSTS Negri Sembilan scraped into the semi-finals of the MHC-Milo-NSC-MOE National Under-14 by the skin of their teeth when they beat Terengganu 1-0 at the Seremban Two Stadium yesterday.
The hosts needed a win after Penang had defeated Perak 2-0 in an earlier match but missed many chances in the first half.
But Shafiq Mohd Zapi’s strike in the 40th minute will see them play five-times champions Kuala Lumpur in the semi-finals.
The other semi-finals will be between Perak and Johor.
Ironically, Negri Sembilan born Madzli Ikmar is coaching Kuala Lumpur and will plot the downfall of his state.
“Sentiments will be set aside as I have to be professional in carrying out my job. But Negri are no pushovers as they play with their heart and it was evident in the match against Terengganu,” said Madzli.
“They have been improving in every match, and its not going to be an easy ride. Still I am confident that my team has what it takes to make the final.”
Johor beat Perlis 5-0 with goals from Taufik Kamjai (2nd minute), Amirul Hanis (28th), Shafiq Hassan (52nd, 58th) and Zulsafiq Amirul (65th minute) to book their spot.
Earlier in the morning, defending champions Kuala Lumpur laboured to a 2-1 win over Kelantan.
Perak who had already assured themselves of the top spot in Group B and the result would have not affected their position. And on the top of that they had two players on a yellow card each – Muhd Zaidi Mat Sait and K. Hariharan.
“With the semis only 24 hours away we did not want to risk playing our first team and it was also to rest some key players as we are in a group that requires teams to play an extra match,” said Perak team manager Manjit Singh.
“The semis aginst Johor will be tough as they have shown marked improvement. We need to get a result within the regulation time or we might be in trouble.”
RESULTS: Group A -- Kuala Lumpur 2 Kelantan 1, Johor 5 Perlis 0, Pahang 2 Selangor 3.
Group B: Kedah 1 Malacca 3, Perak 0 Penang 2, Terengganu 0 Negri Sembilan 1
TODAY: Semi-finals -- Kuala Lumpur v Negri Sembilan (4pm), Perak v Johor (6pm)
FINAL STANDINGS
GROUP A
P W D L F A Pts
K. Lumpur 5 4 1 0 14 5 13
Johor 5 3 1 1 17 4 10
Selangor 5 3 0 2 11 9 9
Kelantan 5 2 1 2 4 6 7
Pahang 5 0 2 3 4 14 2
Perlis 5 0 1 4 2 13 1
GROUP B
P W D L F A Pts
Perak 6 5 0 1 15 4 15
N. Sembilan 6 4 1 1 15 9 13
Penang 6 4 0 2 23 13 12
Terengganu 6 2 2 2 11 8 8
Malacca 6 2 1 3 8 16 7
Sabah 6 1 1 4 8 17 4
Kedah 6 0 1 5 4 17 1
