Negeri Sembilan FC were left to rue a string of missed opportunities as they failed to avenge their earlier defeat, settling for a frustrating 0-0 draw against Melaka FC in a tightly contested Liga Super Malaysia 2025/26 at Stadium Tuanku Abdul Rahman, Paroi.
Coming into the match with a point to prove after a 0-2 loss in the reverse fixture, the Jang side showed urgency from the opening whistle—but lacked the finishing edge when it mattered most.
The hosts thought they had found an early breakthrough in the 20th minute when Takumi Sasaki calmly slotted past goalkeeper Samuel Somerville. However, celebrations were cut short as the assistant referee flagged for offside.
Despite controlling large spells of the first half, Negeri Sembilan struggled to break down a disciplined Melaka defense marshaled by Irfan Zakaria and Aroon Kumar. The duo stood firm under pressure, denying repeated attempts from the home side.
Sasaki remained at the heart of Negeri’s attacking play and nearly made amends before halftime, but failed to convert a well-worked move set up by Joseph Esso.
After the break, Melaka grew into the contest, showing greater attacking intent and forcing Muhammad Azri Ghani into several key saves to keep the score level.
The defining moment came in the 65th minute when Negeri Sembilan were awarded a penalty after A Selvan was brought down inside the box. It was the golden chance to finally break the deadlock—but Esso’s effort sailed agonizingly over the bar, summing up a night of frustration for the home side.
Luck continued to evade Negeri Sembilan when Sasaki’s late attempt in the 79th minute struck the post, leaving fans stunned as another clear chance went begging.
In the end, both sides had to settle for a point apiece—but it was Negeri Sembilan who will feel the greater disappointment, having dominated chances without reward.
Credit Photo : NSFC
