Sabah headache for Negri...

FIVE-TIME champions Kuala Lumpur virtually sealed their spot in the semi-finals of the MHC-MIL0-NSC-MOE National Under 14 after they came from a goal down to beat Pahang 4-1 in Group A yesterday.
  However, on the adjacent pitch, Negri Sembilan were dealt a big blow when they were held to a 1-1 draw by Sabah.
   With the draw, Negri now face an uphill task in trying to make the last four as they have to beat Terengganu and await the outcome of matches involving Penang.
   Last year losing finalists Terengganu are out of the running for a place in the semis after they were held to a 1-1 draw by Kedah.
   And Penang did their hopes a world of good by trashing Malacca 7-0 to enhance their chances in moving into semis from Group B.
 KL have 10 points from four matches and have Kelantan to play on Friday, a match that could well decide who tops Group A as the east coast side need to defeat Johor to set up the showdown for group champions.
  Perak only need one point from their remaining two matches, against Malacca today and Penang on Friday to seal their place.
   “Although we are sitting pretty we just cannot afford to take things for granted and have to play our very best. In age group tournaments nothing is certain and thus we have to remain cautious,” said Perak team manager Manjit Singh.
   “It is quite open at the moment as three teams, Perak, Penang and Negri are in the running for a place in the last four. And I expect it to boil down to matches on Friday to determine the semifinalists.”
  Pahang opened scoring in the 34th minute through Jamal Abdul Hassan. But the city side hit back with goals from Wan Haziq (47th) and a hat-trick from Fitri Khairul (59th, 61st, 70th).
   For hosts Negri, after taking the lead through Mahathir Rathuwan in the 23rd minute they created numerous chances but could not add on to their tally.
   And Sabah punished them with an equaliser in the 56th minute through Shafiq Zapi to share the spoils.
  THURSDAY: Group A: Johor v Kelantan (8am), Perlis v Selangor (4pm).
Group B: Kedah v Sabah (8am), Perak v Malacca (4.30pm), Terengganu v Penang (6pm).

  RESULTS: Group A -- Selangor 0 Kelantan 2, Kuala Lumpur 4 Pahang 1.
  Group B: Kedah 1 Terengganu 1, Sabah 1 Negri Sembilan 1, Malacca 0 Penang 7.

STANDINGS

GROUP A

                           P        W       D        L        F        A        PTS
K. Lumpur     4        3        1         0       12       4           10
Kelantan          3        2        1         0        3        0            7
Johor                 3         1        1        1         8        4           4
Selangor          3         1        0        2         4       8            3
Pahang             4          0        2        2         2      11           2
Perlis                 3         0        1        2         2       4             1


GROUP B

                          P        W       D        L        F      A        PTS
Perak                 4         4        0         0        13      2           12
N. Sembilan       5         3        1         1        14      9           10
Penang                4         3        0         1        20      8            9
Terengganu        4         1        2         1          6      6            5
Malacca             4          1       1         2          5      13           4
Kedah                 4         0        1         3          2       11          1
Sabah                 5         0        1         4          5      16           1