FORCES -MALACCA FINAL

Armed Forces qualified for the final of the Raja Noora Ashikin Cup after they edged KL Sukma 2-1 in the semi final at the Seremban 2 Hockey Stadium.

And Malacca created an upset by defeating Terengganu 2-0 in the second semifinal.

Malacca, represented by 11 players from the Bandar Penawar Sports School netted their goals via Nuraslinda Said ( 56^th minute) and Siti Nor Aliah Amnuruddin (59^th minute) and will fancy their chances against and ageing Armed Forces side.

Terengganu netted a consolation in the 70th minute through Nurul Najihah Farhani Rashid   who converted a penalty corner.

Though they lost, credit must go to KL who matched their more experienced opponents for long spell of the match.

It was only due to their unability to convert the chances and poor marking in the closing stages that led to their downfall.

“The players did their best and went down fighting. What more can I ask of them? At times I felt that my youngsters gave the opponents too much respect, but that is something they need to overcome,” said KL coach Rizal Razman.

“Defeat is always a bitter pill to swallow but I hope that the players will learn from the mistakes and put up a better show in Kuantan for the Sukma next month.”

It was KL that took the lead in the 20^th minute when a pass from Nur Farah Shahira was turned into goal by a lurking Hernie Japlee at the far post.

But national player Juliani Mohamma Din converted a penalty corner in the 22^nd minute to put Armed Forces on level terms.

The winning goal came in the 64^th minute via Izzuin Ismail who turned in a cross from Nadia Mokhtar to put Armed Forces into their second succesive final. They lost to Pahang 2-1 in last years final and have yet to win the RNA Cup.

“It was indeed a harrowing experience as our performance was not up to the mark. We were fortunate to win and really were poor in several aspects,” said Armed Forces manager Azlan Shah Aziz.

“If this is the form we carry into the final tomorrow then we will be in heaps of trouble. vWe have an experienced side but are not playing to their potential.”

Armed Forces will take on the winner of the Terengganu v Malacca match that will be played at 7.00pm.

Semi Finals Results

Armed Forces 2 KL Sukma 1

Terengganu 1 Malacca 2

Fixtures ( Tuesday)

3/4^th Placing

3.30pm - KL Sukma v Terengganu

5.00pm – Armed Forces v Malacca

FORCES, KL AND TERENGGANU IN SEMIS

Armed Forces laboured to a 1-0 win over Perak to book their place in the semi finals of the Raja Noora Ashikin Cup at the Seremban 2 Hockey Stadium.

It was the fifth straight win for the Army team with the solitary goal coming in the 69^th minute through the efforts of Suzzana Mohammad Nazir.

Kedah too moved a step closer to the semis from Group A as they edged Singapore, also with a 1-0 scoreline, thanks to a goal by Mawaddah Abu Bakar in the 13^th minute.

Kedah held Armed Forces to a 1-1 draw  have to await the outcome of the Malacca v Singapore match on Monday morning to see if they make the semis.

Kedah has 12 points, the same as Malacca who defeated Sarawak 1-0 this evening.

Malacca enhanced their chances of making the semis when they defeated a gritty Sarawak 3-0 in an evening match. The opening goal was scored by skipper Ayu Malina Zainuddin in the 26^th minute of a clerverly worked penalty corner.

Nuraslinda Said made it 2-0 in the 64^th minute and with the Sarawak players losing confidence, Nor Aisyah Yaccob added a third in the 69^th minute.

For Sarawak though it was a good learninbg experience and as many as three players, Christina Uchat, Ivana Sonia and Lora King caught the eyes of the selectors to be included in the Asia Junior Cup training squad.

“We lacked the experience to challenge for a place in the semis but under these circumstances I am proud of the performance of my girls,” said Sarawak coach C. Sivasubramaniam.

“It was a good learning process for them and hopefully it serves us well in the Sukma next month.

Meanwhile in Group B, KL Sukma made the semis thanks to PDRM’s failure to defeat Terengganu.

PDRM led 2-1 with five minutes remaining and failed to hold on thus allowing the city side to sneak into the last four on goal difference.

“We are given a second life and intend to make full use of it. We lost in the semis last year and with some luck and planning hope to make the final this time around,” said KL coach Rizal Razman.

GROUP A

                                                P        W        D         L         G         A         PTS

Armed Forces                    6         5         1         0         27        3         16

Malacca                                6         5         0         1         21       6         15
Kedah                                   6         4         1         1         13       3         13
Sarawak                               6         3         0         3         9         8         9

Perak                                    6         1         1         4         11         11    4
Singapore                            6         1         1         4         8         8         4

SMK PJ2                               6         0         0         6         0         50       0

GROUP B

                                                P         W        D         L         G         A         PTS

Terengganu                         5         4         1         0         17       3         13

KL Sukma                            5         3         1         1         20       5         10

PDRM                                    5         3         1         1         15       7         9

Penang                                 5         2         1         2         8         9         7

N. Sembilan                        5         1         0         4         6         13       3

MS Politeknik                     5         0         0         5         3         32       0

Results

Group A

Armed Forces 1 Perak 0

Singapore 0 Kedah 1

Malacca 3 Sarawak 0

Kedah 1 Armed Forces 1

Perak 7 SMK PJ 2 0

Singapore 0 Malacca 2

Semi Finals

5.00pm -  Armed Forces v KL Sukma

7.00pm – Terengganu v Malacca

ATM VIRTUALLY THROUGH TO SEMIS

 Last year losing finalists Armed Forces are virtually through to the last four of the Raja Noora Ashikin Cup when they defeated Singapore 3-0 at the Seremban 2 Hockey Stadium.

With 12 points from four wins, Armed Forces, who are in Group A will play two matches on Sunday, against Perak in the morning followed by Kedah at night, and need only one win to book their place in the semis.

Close on their heels are Kedah who have 9 points and will also play tow matches, against Singapore in the morning before the cruncher later in the day.

Armed Forces opened scoring in the 6^th minute through Nurul Asyadah Ahmad Shapawi who converted a penalty corner.

Izzuin Ismail made it 2-0 in the 0^th minute before adding another six minutes before time in a match where Armed Forces defender Juliani Mohamma Din and skipper Nadia Abdul Rahman, both national players hardly broke into a sweat.

“We have two matches tomorrow and need to play smartly as we need three points for a place in the semis. Though we are playing well, there is still the issue of not converting chances, but we aim to improve on this area,” said Armed Forces manager Azlan Shah Abdul Aziz.

Meanwhile KL Sukma blew their chances of a place in the semis when they were held to a 1-1 draw by unsung Penang.

Penang led 1-0 through a goal by Nurizwana Ahmad Tajuddin. KL only equalised in the 70^th minute via a penalty corner converted by Nur Syafiqah Mohd Zain.

In another match, Sarawak notched up their third succesive win by defeating SMPJ 2, 5-0 to consolidate their position in Group A.

Sarawak opened scoring in the 19^th minute through Shelly Bayang. They doubled their advantage via Ivana Sofia Beriak in the 23^rd minute.

Coached by former Selangor player C. Sivasubramaniam, the Sarawakians showed good basics and were never troubled in the match and added three more goals in the second half via Lora King (39^th minute), Janeth Kadir (48^th minute) and Shelly (69^th minute).

GROUP A

                                                P         W        D         L         G         A         PTS

Armed Forces                    4         4         0         0         25       2         12

Kedah                                   4         3         0         1         11       2         9

Sarawak                               5         3         0         2         9         5         9

Malacca                                3         2         0         1         11       5         6

Singapore                            4         1         1         2         8         5         4

Perak                                    3         0         1         2         3         5         1

SMK PJ2                               5         0         0         5         0         43       0

GROUP B

                                                P         W        D         L         G         A         PTS

Terengganu                         4         4         0         0         15       1         12

KL Sukma                            5         3         1         1         20       5         10

PDRM                                    4         3         0         1         13       5         9

Penang                                 5         2         1         2         8         9         7

N. Sembilan                         5         1         0         4         6         13       3

MS Politeknik                     5         0         0         5         3         32       0

Results

Group A

SMK PJ 2 0  Sarawak 5

Singapore 0  Armed Forces 3

Malacca  Perak

Group B

Penang 1 KL Sukma 1

Negeri Sembilan 3 SM Politeknik 1

PDRM  Terengganu

Fixtures (Sunday)

Group A

7.30am – Armed Forces v Perak

7.30am – Singapore v Kedah

5.00pm – Malacca v Sarawak

7.00pm – Kedah v Armed Forces

ACTION SHOTS FROM RNA DAY FOUR

GROUP A

                                                P         W        D         L         G         A         PTS

Armed Forces                    3         3         0         0         22       2         9

Kedah                                   4         3         0         1         11       2         9

Malacca                                3         2         0         1         11       5         6

Sarawak                               4         2         0         2         4         5         6

Perak                                     3         0         1         2         3         5         1

Singapore                            3         1         1         1         8         2         4

SMK PJ2                               4         0         0         4         0         38       0

GROUP B

                                                P         W        D         L         G         A        PTS

Terengganu                         4         4         0         0         15       1         12

KL Sukma                            4         3         0         1         19       4         9

PDRM                                    4         3         0         1         13       5         9

Penang                                  4         2         0         2         7         8         6

N. Sembilan                         4         0         0         4         3         12       0

MS Politeknik                     4         0         0         4         2         29       0

Results

Group A

Singapore v SMK PJ 2

Sarawak 2 Perak 1

Kedah 0 Malacca 1

Group B

Negeri Sembilan 0 Penang 1

Terengganu 9 SM Politeknik 0

KL Sukma 4 PDRM 0

Fixtures (Saturday)

Group A

7.30am -  SMK PJ 2 v Sarawak

5.00pm – Singapore v Armed Forces

5.00pm – Malacca v Perak

Group B

7.30am – Penang v KL Sukma

3.30pm – Negeri Sembilan v SM Politeknik

3.30pm – PDRM v Terengganu

KL GET THE BETTER OF PDRM

Kuala Lumpur upset the formbook by defeating fancied Royal Malaysian Police 4-0 in the Raja Noora Ashikin Cup at the Seremban 2 Hockey Stadium.

Playing against a vastly experienced side, the KL Sukma side however showed nerves of steel by running down their opponentswith speed and fitness in the blazing afternoon sun.

“The players were not overawed by their opponents and that was the key to the win today. Couple that with the fact that we took our chances well gave us the win,” said KL Sukma coach Rizal Razman.

“This is a tremendous boost for the youngsters and they have been improving from match to match. Now we need to win the next match against Penang and hope that Terengganu defeats PDRM for us to book a place in the last four.”

KL opened scoring in the 20^th minute via Nur Syafiqah Mohd Zain who converted a penalty corner. And two minutes later Herni Japlee weaved her magic in the semi circle, staving off two defenders to give KL a 2-0 lead.

Nur Syafiqah was on target once again in the 57^th minute before Norazlin Sumantri

sealed the win with a goal in the 63^rd minute.

Terengganu consolidted their position on the top of Group B with a 9-0 win over SM Politeknik.

Fatin Naimah Zaki scored a hattrick, her goals coming in the 1^st, 6^th and 65^th minutes. A brace by Nor Hasida Hassan (12^th and 23^rd minutes) as well as goals from Aishah Zulkifli (38^th minute), Nur Aisyah Hashim ( 41^st minute), Siti Nurul Afina Mat Jusoh and Sharifah Nadiah Syed Mohd Wahab gave the east coast side 12 points from four wins.

Hosts Negeri Sembilan were beaten yet again, this time going down to Penang with Nurizwana Ahmad Tajuddin scoring in the 60^th minute.

GROUP A

                                               P         W        D         L         G         A      PTS

Armed Forces                    3         3         0         0         22       2         9

Kedah                                   3         3         0         0         11       1         9

Sarawak                               3         1         0         2         2         4         3

Malacca                                2         1         0         1         10       5         3

Perak                                     2         0         1         1         2         3         1

Singapore                            3         1         1         1         8         2         4

SMK PJ2                               4         0         0         4         0         38       0

GROUP B

                                            P         W        D         L         G         A       PTS

Terengganu                         4          4         0         0         15       1         12

KL Sukma                          4          3         0         1         19       4         9

PDRM                                 4         3         0         1         13       5         9

Penang                                 4         2         0         2         7         8          6

N. Sembilan                         4         0         0         4         3         12       0

MS Politeknik                     4         0         0         4         2         29       0

Results

Group A

Singapore v SMK PJ 2

Sarawak v Perak

Kedah v Malacca

Group B

Negeri Sembilan 0 Penang 1

Terengganu 9 SM Politeknik 0

KL Sukma 4 PDRM 0

Fixtures (Saturday)

Group A

7.30am -  SMK PJ 2 v Sarawak

5.00pm – Singapore v Armed Forces

5.00pm – Malacca v Perak

Group B

7.30am – Penang v KL Sukma

3.30pm – Negeri Sembilan v SM Politeknik

3.30pm – PDRM v Terengganu