BUKIT JALILA: Kuala Lumpur edged Sabah 1-0 in Group C to advance to the medal rounds of the National Under-16 tournament at the National Hockey Stadium on Monday.
It was a fantastic transformation for KL as they finished 10th last year.
The all-important goal was scored by Syuaib Zulkarnain in the 38th minute.
In another match, Pahang edged Kelantan 2-1 to top Group C on seven points, while Kuala Lumpur ended second on six.
Pahang scored through Hazim Mohamed Ahir (18th minute) and Hazim Mohamed Ahir (52nd) while Wan Amirul Husni Rahim netted for Kelantan in the 55th minute.
"Yes, this is a big improvement from 10th last year, as we will be playing in the medal rounds. When we first selected the team and played a few friendlies, the feeling was already there that these batch of boys would be potential medallists," said KL coach Badrul Hisham Othman.
The top two teams of the three groups will be divided into two pools of three teams in the medal round.
RESULTS
Boys’ Group B: Penang 1 Malacca 1.
Group C: Kuala Lumpur 1 Sabah 0, Kelantan 1 Pahang 2.
Girls’ Group A: Negri Sembilan 2 Perlis 0, Kuala Lumpur 2 Pahang 2;
Group B: Sarawak 0 Penang 2, Sabah 1 Malacca 4.
Fixtures
Tuesday
Boys’ Group A: Johor v Perak (6.45pm, Pitch I), Perlis v Sarawak (6.45pm, Pitch II);
Group B: Selangor v Terengganu (8pm, Pitch I).
Girls’ Group A: Perlis v Kuala Lumpur (8.45am, Pitch II);
Group C: Johor v Selangor (7.30am, Pitch II), Perak v Terengganu (8.45am, Pitch I).
* matches at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil