Kuala Lumpur setup clash with Sabah

Kuala Lumpur (25 March, 2017): Kuala Lumpur and Sabah will play in the final of the Girls 1Mas-MSN-KPM-Milo National Under-16 Tournament at the Kuala Lumpur HA Stadium tomorrow.

In the last Round 2 Group X fixture played at the Ministry of Education ground today, Penang defeated the city girls 2-1 to share three-equal points with KL and Selangor. However, Kuala Lumpur goes through to the final following a one-goal advantage over second-placed Selangor and Penang.

Kuala Lumpur girls scored three goals and conceded two, Penang netted four and gave away four goals whilst Penang scored four but conceded five goals in the second round of the tournament.

However, the boys’ Under-16 final will be between three-time winners Perak and defending champions Terengganu, who drew 1-1 against Pahang in a rain-interrupted last Group X fixture of the second round today.

Penang girls led 2-0 with goals from Nurmaizatul Hanim Syafi Sheik Fuad (17th minute) and Nur Anis Adilah Azmi (26th minute) when the match was stopped due to rain and lightning two minutes before the end of the first half.

Upon resumption 70 minutes later Nurhanani Abdullah scored KL’s consolation goal in the 33rd minute via penalty corner.

Sabah’s road to the final from Group Y began with a 2-1 win over Johor and clawed Negeri Sembilan 3-0 on Friday.

“We have to play much better against Sabah in the final than we did against Penang today. Sabah has been playing well throughout the tournament,” said KL coach A. Kannagi, adding that the city girls, who lost to Selangor 2-1 in the 2014 final and finished third last year, will need to stay focus throughout the final against Sabah.

Sabah has never reached the finals before and will be riding on sheer perseverance and commitment to win their first national title.

Sabah HA Vice-President, Dato Anil Jit Singh Sandhu, observed: “Obviously, it has been a great moment for Sabah girls’ hockey team to reach the final here. They are up against KL – a team that has been playing well in the first and second round”.

RESULTS – BOYS ROUND 2:
Group X: Terengganu 1 Pahang 1
Group Y: Sabah 8 Neger Sembilan 0
7-9th Placing: Johor 4 Selangor 3
10-12th Placing: Penang 4 Perlis 1

GIRLS ROUND 2:
Group X: Kuala Lumpur 1 Penang 2
Group Y: Negeri Sembilan 1 Johor 3
7-9th Placing: Pahang 3 Kelantan 1
10-12th Placing: Terengganu 6 Kedah 3

Fixtures – Sunday (26 March):
Final: Perak v Terengganu (KLHA Stadium, 6pm)

GIRLS
Final: Sabah v Kuala Lumpur (KLHA Stadium, 4pm)
3-4th Placing: Selangor v Johor (KPM, 9.30am)
5-6th placing: Penang v Negeri Sembilan (KPM, 7.30am)