Two Cup matches rained out

New Sabah Times

PLAYING IN THE RAIN … a Sipitang (red/black) and Keningau player clash during their Group B top of the table clash at the Sukma Field D yesterday.

KOTA KINABALAU: Unplayable fields forced match officials to abandon two matches as Keningau sealed their ticket to the semi-finals of the Datuk Seri Musa Haji Aman Cup Inter District Football Tournament yesterday. They became the third team to have confirmed their ticket after Tawau and Sipitang with the remaining slot to be decided today after match officials gave it a no go to the match between Kota Belud and Kinabatangan.

 Tawau qualified from Group A while Sipitang and Keningau from Group B. Kota Belud and Kinabatangan, who are level on three points and have scored and conceded the same number of goals, will battle for the remaining slot today after their scheduled match at the Penampang Field B was abandoned (yesterday). Match officials were left with no choice but to put off the tie as the field was flooded due to the nonstop rain. The match will be played at the same venue at 8am today with the winners accompanying Tawau into the semi-finals, which will be played at 4pm, also today.

 As for Keningau, they clinched their ticket after holding the already-qualified Sipitang to a two-all draw in a match that was played on a water-logged pitch at Sukma Field D. The one point gained helped them finish behind Sipitang, who topped the Group B on seven while Keningau have five points. In the game, it was Sipitang who drew first blood through Helmi Sudan’s third minute effort before President’s Cupper Eyo Mathew leveled for Keningau two minutes later.

 Then Frankey Ayoh put Keningau in the lead with his 19th minute striker before Alven Ansubal draw level for Sipitang in the 50th minute. On the other hand, Tawau concluded their group stage challenge with a 1-2 defeat to Pitas at the Penampang Stadium. And now they will have to wait a little longer, whether or not, the six points will be enough for them to remain on top of the four-team standings, as both Kota Belud and Kinabatangan still have the chance to pip them.

 A clear 3-0 win for either Kota Belud or Kinabatangan will see them go top of the group. In the semi-finals, the winners of Group A will take on the Group B runners-up (Keningau) to be played at the Sukma Field D, while Group B winners will take on Group A runners-up at the Penampang Stadium. Both matches will kick off at 3.30pm. The final is on Friday at the Likas Stadium (3.30pm).