KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia A beat Malaysia B 6-1 to boost their chances of playing in the boys' Under-17 Mirnawan Cup final.
Both the teams had a good sparring session at the Ministry of Education Stadium in Jalan Pantai on Wednesday ahead of Malaysia A's vital clash against South Africa on Thursday.
Malaysia A boys had beaten Australia A 2-1, but lost to Odisha from India 3-2, and the win against Malaysia B has kept them in the hunt for a spot in the final.
Malaysia A coach Sufian Zainal knows his players have only one option, and he will have to push his 16-year-olds to play their best match of the tournament.
"South Africa are not going to be an easy team to beat, but I have my plans as I have been watching them play. Their best match was a 3-2 defeat to Australia where I noticed they had two talented forwards and three penalty corner flickers.
"My defenders and penalty corner runners have been drilled on how to stop them from scoring," said Sufian.
Sufian also saw a major flaw in the South African game, and which he intends to exploit.
Australia All Star will meet Odisha on Thursday as well, and it will also chart Malaysia A's future in the second edition of the Mirnawan Cup.
RESULTS:
Boys - Malaysia A 6 Malaysia B 1
Girls - Malaysia A 4 Malaysia B 1