SMK Bukit Rambai of Malacca are through to the quarter-finals of the 100PLUS Under-17 Champions' School and believe the road is wide open for them to clinch the title.
A 3-1 win over SMK Abdul Rahman Taib of Pahang in their final Group A match at the Sekolah Syed Hassan ground in Arau, Perlis, yesterday earned them a ticket to the quarter-final stage by virtue of finishing runners-up to unbeaten SMK Kulim of Kedah.
But it has looked so uncertain for the boys from Malacca. After losing their opening match 2-1 to SMK Kulim on Monday, they had to beat SMK Abdul Rahman Taib to stay alive.
But it has looked so uncertain for the boys from Malacca. After losing their opening match 2-1 to SMK Kulim on Monday, they had to beat SMK Abdul Rahman Taib to stay alive.
After a nervous start, SMK Bukit Rambai settled down but it was only in the very last minute of the first period that they managed to break down their opponents' defence with a goal from Norfaizaitul Iqbal Ayub.
Then two quick goals in succession in the 33rd and 40th minutes from Sharemal Aziz and Solehi Ahmad Zuhaimi respectively virtually sealed the win for Bukit Rambai though Tengku Amirul Abdul Razak pulled one back for SMK Abdul Rahman Taib in the 51st.
"We have been given a second chance and must take it. I thought that after our loss to Sekolah Menengah Kulim it would be difficult to make a comeback. But we did it with an encouraging performance today (yesterday)," said Bukit Rambai's coach Zairi Kusin.
"We have been given a second chance and must take it. I thought that after our loss to Sekolah Menengah Kulim it would be difficult to make a comeback. But we did it with an encouraging performance today (yesterday)," said Bukit Rambai's coach Zairi Kusin.
The fancied Victoria Institution from Kuala Lumpur also made the quarter-finals in style with a 100 percent record in Group C.
They finished as group champions after a 4-1 win over SMK Komplex KLIA in their final group match yesterday at the Sekolah Vokasional Arau ground, leaving Sekolah Clifford of Perak in second place.
Also through to the last eight is Kajang High School with their unbeaten record in Group B and scoring nine goals on their way to the top.
They beat SM Sains Labuan 4-0 and then edged Sekolah Vokasional Arau 1-0 on Monday and put four goals past SMK Precint 8 Putrajaya yesterday.
Joining them from Group B into the knockout stages is Sekolah Vokasional Arau, who trounced the boys from Labuan 7-0.
Beaten losing finalists in 2009 and losing quarter-finalists last year, Sekolah Gua Perahu from Bukit Mertajam are out of the championship for fielding an ineligible player.
The player concerned had previously played in the Minister of Education League Cup this year.
That allowed Kelantan's SMK Kg. Chengal and SMK Sultan Sulaiman from Terengganu to be the two qualifiers from Group D.
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