KUALA LUMPUR: Tunku Mahkota Ismail Sports School (SSTMI) Thunderbolts qualified for the Junior Hockey League semi-finals with a hard fought 1-0 win over newly crowned Division Two champions Kuala Lumpur City Hall at the National Hockey Stadium today.
The all-important goal for SSTMI was scored by Harris Iskandar Osman in the 44th minute from a field attempt.
SSTMI, who had finished runners-up in Division One, will take on SMK Dato Bentara Luar-PHJ-MSNJ in the semis on Friday.
Meanwhile, SMK Dato Bentara Luar faced a strong challenge from MSNS-SHA Sabah in the quarter-finals before prevailing 1-0 at the same venue.
Perabu Tangaraja scored off a penalty corner in the 22nd minute for Dato Bentara Luar.
Sabah team manager Avtar Singh Bal said it was a touch and go match and they were unlucky to lose 1-0.
"I praised my players for giving Dato Bentara Luar a scare. Reaching the quarter-finals was a good outing for us and we will have 10 players from this squad to play in next month's Malaysia Games at the same venue."
The other semi-final is between Pahang Hockey Academy (AHP)-SSP-MSP Thunderbolts and Division One league champions Bukit Jalil Sports School (BJSS) Thunderbolts.
The Pahang team staved off a strong challenge from Tunku Mahkota Ismail Sports School (SSTMI) Juniors before getting a narrow 1-0 win.
Hazim Ahir scored the solitary goal for Pahang in the 15th minute off a penalty corner.
BJSS Thunderbolts defeated their sister team BJSS Juniors 3-1 on the adjacent pitch in Bukit Jalil.
Amirul Haniff Mamat (5th), Mohamad Zulhanif Bin Sahran (40th) and Addy Jazmi Zamlus (57th) scored for BJSS Thunderbolts while Ahmad Ariff Daniel Shahrein (14th) replied for BJSS Juniors.
RESULTS
Quarter-finals
BJSS Thunderbolts 3 BJSS Juniors 1;
AHP-SSP-MSP Thunderbolts 1 SSTMI Juniors 0;
SMKDBL-PHJ-MSNJ1 MSNS-SHA Sabah 0;
SSTMI Thunderbolts 1 DBKL HT 0