The Super League clash between Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) and Negeri Sembilan FC (NSFC) treated fans to an electrifying display of attacking football at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium last night.
In a pulsating encounter filled with end-to-end action, the defending champions ultimately secured a 5-3 win, but not without a strong challenge from the spirited visitors.
NSFC stunned the home crowd early when Joseph Esso opened the scoring in the 8th minute, before Jovan Motika doubled the lead just four minutes later.
The two-goal cushion was short-lived, as JDT pulled one back in the 38th minute through a precise header from Jon Irazabal, followed by Joao Figueiredo’s equaliser three minutes later.
The second half began with renewed intensity as Irazabal struck again in the 57th minute, swiftly followed by Ariff Aiman Hanapi’s goal just a minute later to give JDT a commanding lead.
NSFC refused to back down, with Motika netting his second of the match in the 60th minute to keep the contest alive. However, Bergson Da Silva sealed the victory for the Harimau Selatan with an acrobatic effort in stoppage time.
Speaking after the match, JDT head coach Xisco Muñoz praised his team’s fighting spirit despite acknowledging areas for improvement.
“I’m a positive person and will take time to understand this situation with the team. There were mistakes, but we must learn from them and strengthen both our defence and attack for the upcoming matches,” said Xisco.
NSFC head coach Mohd Nidzam Jamil lauded his players’ bravery in taking the game to a heavyweight opponent.
“I hope the players maintain this fearless approach in every match, especially in creating scoring opportunities against stronger sides. It’s not easy, but we must look at the positives and never take elite-level football lightly. Tonight, we learned a lot,” he said.
NSFC will now look to build on this spirited performance as they prepare for their next challenge in the Super League campaign.
