Kota Kinabalu: Tawau and Keningau are through to the semi-finals of the Safa Cup 2018 tournament after winning their second match on Tuesday. Tawau who were one of the early favourites beat defending champions Kota Kinabalu 2-1 in the Group B tie at the Likas Stadium in the afternoon match.
However, they were made to sweat as Kota Kinabalu took an early lead when Mohd Wafi Yakub beat the offside trap to score the opener in the 33rd minute. The east coast side looked much fitter in the second half and their relentless attacks finally paid off with two quick goals in the 55th and 57th minutes by Asyraf Asnawi and Khairul Kamarudin to seal the win. Kota Kinabalu skipper Billy Doliente had minutes earlier been denied an equaliser with a goal line clearance, and his team could have snatched a late equaliser but was unable to beat the excellent Ramzy Mustakim in goal.
With Kota Belud winning 1-0 against Kota Marudu in the other Group B match played in Penampang, Kota Kinabalu are now in danger of going out of the competition after collecting only one point with Tawau topping the group with six points followed by Kota Belud with four. They need to win their final game against Kota Marudu by at least two goals and at the same time hope Kota Belud lose to Tawau.
Meanwhile, Keningau who beat Sipitang 1-0 in the opening Group A match on Monday, edged Kinabatangan by the same score line on Tuesday to progress to the last four with six points. The goal was scored late in the match by Rimin Epin in the 80th minute. In the other Group B second round match, Sipitang bounced back from their opening day loss by beating Kuala Penyu 2-0 to put themselves in a very strong position to qualify for the semi-final as a draw with Kinabatangan today at Likas Stadium at 7.30am will see them through. The other matches to be played today are Kota Kinabalu versus Kota Marudu at the Likas Stadium at 3.30pm, Kuala Penyu versus Keningau at Penampang Stadium at 7.30am and Tawau versus Kota Belud at Penampang Stadium at 3.30pm. - GL Oh
