Samarahan goalkeeper Elliekha Jimmy kicks away the ball after a goalmouth melee during the Girls U18 semi-final match against Kapit at the Sarawak Astroturf Hockey Stadium yesterday. Coached by former national player Catherine Lambor, Samarahan went on to win 3-0 and meet Bintulu in today’s final. — Photo by Marshall Tiong
KUCHING: Unheralded Bintulu sprung the biggest upset at the Sarawak Schools Sports Council (MSSS) Hockey Championship yesterday when they edged Kuching 1-0 in the Girls U18 semi-finals.
The match went scoreless in
the first half of the match and Kuching practically camped in the Bintulu end late in the second half and were rewarded with penalty corners.
These all went to waste as the Kuching players could not convert them due to poor execution and sloppy play.
Bintulu will now face defending champions Samarahan in today’s final after the latter thumped Kapit 3-0 in the other semi-final.
Samarahan also tasted victory in the Boys U12 semi-finals where they outplayed Bintulu 4-1.
Their final opponents are Sibu who edged Kuching 2-1 in the penalty shoot out after playing to a 1-1 draw at full-time.
In the Girls U12 league matches, Samarahan drew 1-1 with Bintulu while Sibu blanked Mukah 5-0.
Today’s final league matches shall see Samarahan taking on Mukah while Bintulu are pitted against Kuching.
Kuching will have only one title to play for this year after they made it to the final of the Boys U18 competition.
They whipped Bintulu 4-0 in yesterday’s semi-finals to set up a final showdown with Sibu who edged Betong 2-1.
The Sibu-Betong match had ended 1-1 at full-time but Sibu scored the golden goal in extra time to book their place in today’s final.
Earlier, Betong had qualified for the last four after they beat Miri 3-2 in a penalty shoot out.