Fight for two quarter-final spots in football scores high on intrigue

THE fight for the two quarter-final spots from Group C in the men’s football competition is looking very intriguing.

Terengganu top the three-team standings with two points from two matches. But that doesn’t mean they are assured of a quarter-final ticket yet.

Hosts Sarawak and the Federal Territories (FT), both with one point each, can still qualify if they play out a high-scoring draw at the State Stadium in Petra Jaya today.

Third-placed Sarawak, who were champions when they last hosted the Sukma in 1990, drew their opening match against Terengganu 0- 0, while secondFT held Terengganu to a 1-1 draw.

Sarawak, who are coached by Bosnian Fuad Grbesic, have included three players from their Super League side – midfielders Nur Shamie Iszuan Amin, Rodney Celvin Akwensivie and Tommy Mawat Mada.

Thirteen teams are vying for the gold medal in the Under-21 competition, which kicked off on July 19.

So far, defending champions Perak (Group D); Selangor, Johor (Group A); Sabah, Pahang (Group B); and Terengganu (Group C) have qualified for the last eight.

In Group D, Negri Sembilan need only a draw to pip Penang to a place in the quarter-finals. Perak, with three points, play Negri in the last game today.

Both Negri and Penang have one point each.

Penang can qualify on better goal difference if Perak beat Negri by a two-goal margin.

Badrul Amin Rusalan was the toast for Selangor in their 1-0 win over Perlis at the PSS Ground in Kuching yesterday.

Selangor emerged Group A winners with six points and will play Group B runners-up Pahang in the quarter-finals on Tuesday.

Coach Omar Ali believes they have a good chance to advance to the semi-finals.

“We played against Pahang in the President’s Cup match in May and drew 2-2.

“We led 2-0, but allowed them to come back due to our mistakes. This time, we will be prepared for them,” said Omar.