WITH just three teams safe in the knowledge that they have booked a spot in the Malaysia Games quarter-finals, there remains plenty to play for in today's final round of football matches in Kuantan.
Group C is the only group where all four teams retain a chance of advancing to the last eight while in the three-team Group B, the only issue to be resolved is who between Perak and Selangor will top the standings.
Federal Territories are the surprise early qualifiers from Group D after 2-0 wins over Malacca and Kelantan, who are tottering on the brink of elimination.
Pahang, with six points from two games, should beat Sarawak to finish top of Group A while defending champions Terengganu, seeking an unprecedented fourth consecutive gold medal, are also likely go through by beating pointless Penang.
So that leaves attention focused on Group C where leaders Sabah, with four points, play bottom team Kedah (one point) and Brunei (two) take on Perlis (three).
Brunei, who won the Hassanal Bolkiah Under-21 international tournament earlier this year, have been held to 1-1 draws by Sabah and Kedah and must beat Perlis to avoid relying on Sabah to do them a favour.
Coach Rosanan Samak was happy with his side's display in the Borneo derby against Sabah on Friday though he wished his strikers would start converting their chances.
"We cannot afford any draws any more. We need to win. I'm looking to make some changes so that we can score more goals.
"We need to go all out in attack. All teams have still got a chance and we know we only can afford a win," he said after that match.
It could get very complicated though should Perlis and Brunei draw 0-0 and Kedah beat Sabah 1-0 which would leave Perlis, Sabah and Kedah level on points, goal difference and goals scored.
The tie-breaker would be a mini-league among the three teams which would leave Kedah out with Perlis and Sabah going through.
In Group D, Kelantan need to beat Malacca by two goals while hoping FT, whose coach Razip Ismail is considering resting a few players, beat Negri.
TODAY -- Group A: Pahang v Sarawak (Darulmakmur Stadium, 4.45pm), Penang v Terengganu (Kuantan MC, 4.45pm); Group B: Selangor v Perak (Kuantan MC, 4.45pm); Group C: Perlis v Brunei, Sabah v Kedah (both at Kuantan MC, 8am); Group D: Malacca v Kelantan (Darulmakmur Stadium, 8am), FT v g Negri (Kuantan MC, 4.45pm). By Devinder Singh
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