Game 1 of the semi-final series between Haya and Ikhlas was a let down for the guys in Grey just like some of the I-slam analysts had predicted.

Along with their 2nd half surge in the regular season and the wild card game against Ridha, Ikhlas proved once again that this team is for real.

They were ready to play from the opening face-off and didn't let-up until the final buzzer.

Mo Hamoud scored for Ikhlas just over a minute into the game as his slap shot from the blue-line beat a screened Fahad to open the scoring in this one.

Haya did themselves no favours as they were unable to match their opponents energy and intensity throughout the game and were playing like a team that had been off for 2 weeks.

Ikhlas scored their 2nd goal of the game on the PP half-way through the 1st period as a goal mouth scramble around Fahad was finally shot in by Abdur-Rahim Manjra.

Haya's Dawud Ciombar was able to cut the Ikhlas lead to 2-1 early in the 2nd period but his team was unable to generate much offense for most of this game.

After an empty-netter from Abdur-Rahim Manjra, the game ended 3-1 in favour of Ikhlas.

Haya has to bring their energy for the must-win game next Friday and that effort starts from their leaders and star players while Ikhlas will look to put them away with the same group effort they have shown throughout this season.