An own goal from SMK Seberang Temerloh’s Muhamad Nor Amirul Mohd Nizam late in the second half allowed leaders SMK Seri Kota to stay top of the Ministry of Education Under-17 League this week.
In the match that was played at SMK Seri Kota Mini Stadium in Melaka, the home team struggled for much of the match as the visiting side from Pahang held off the onslaught for long periods.
But after sustaining the continued pressure well into the second half, defender Muhammad Nor Amirul turned the ball into his own net to allow SMK Seri Kota to pick up the full points and at the same time maintained their position at the top of the standings.
“It was a very close, tight game,” said SMK Seri Kota head coach Faimi Abu after the match. “It was intense all the way but we were the more determined side. We just wanted to win at home which is crucial to our campaign.”
With the full points, SMK Seri Kota have picked up 15 points from seven matches played as they maintained a point lead over second-placed SMK Tunku Anum of Kedah, who had a rest day.
Defending champions SMK Bukit Nenas of Terengganu kept up the pressure at the top to ease into third with a comprehensive 3-1 beating of the U15 team from Gambang Sports School
SMK Bukit Nenas had to battle back from a goal down when Naufal Irfan Nor Zam gave Gambang the lead after just seven minutes to score three goals from Solahudin Mahmud (47th minute) and a brace from Mohd Zarulizwan Mazlan (51st and 53rd).
Elsewhere, SMK Syed Hassan of Perlis beat the U15 team of the Bukit Jalil Sports School 2-0 as SMK Tabuan Jaya of Sarawak held SMK Mutiara Impian of Penang to a 1-1 draw at home in Kuching.
In the lower division of the U17 Premier League, SMK Putera of Kelantan remained in the driver’s seat following their close 2-1 win over SMK Gunung Rapat of Perak with Afiq Saluddinm scoring the 70th minute winner.
Earlier, Mohammad Imran Samso’s lead for SMK Putera in the 23rd minute was cancelled out by Muhammad Amin Mohd Kharnain in the 55th minute for the east coast side to remain at the top of the pecking order as they opened up a two-point lead over SMK Seksyen 11 of Selangor.
On the other hand, SMK Za’ba of Negeri Sembilan were the biggest winner of the week when they thumped the U14 team of the Tunku Mahkota Ismail Sports School 4-0.
The scorers for SMK Za’ba were Mohamad Haziq Fikri Haszaime in the sixth minute, Muhammad Azhar Mohd Soom (57th and 62nd) and Muhammad Shukery Mohamad Hanafi (65th).
The MELC and 100PLUS Super Cup are among several youth programmes and competitions supported by 100PLUS, Malaysia’s leading isotonic beverage.
The others include the 100PLUS Malaysian Junior Golf Open and the 100PLUS National Junior Badminton Circuit. 100PLUS is recommended by the National Sports Council.
UNDER-17 RESULTS
LIGA SUPER
SMK Syed Hassan (PERLIS) 2
SSM Bukit Jalil (U15) 0
SMK Seri Kota (MELAKA) 1
SMK Seberang Temerloh (PAHANG) 0
SMK Bukit Nenas (TERENGGANU) 3
SSM Pahang (U15) 1
SMK Tabuan Jaya (SARAWAK) 1
SMK Mutiara Impian (PENANG) 1
PREMIER LEAGUE
SMK Za’ba (NEGERI SEMBILAN) 4
SMK Tunku Mahkota Ismail (U14) 0
SMK Putera (KELANTAN) 2
SMK Gunung Rapat (PERAK) 1
SMK Tun Hussein On (JOHOR) 0
SSM Bukit Jalil (U14) 0
SMK Datuk Peter Mojuntin (SABAH) 0
SMK Seksyen 11 (SELANGOR) 1
