Terengganu FC secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Melaka FC in the Liga Super Malaysia 2025/26 season at Stadium Hang Jebat, Krubong.
In a match played at relentless pace from the opening whistle, the visitors showed composure and cutting edge when it mattered most to claim all three points.
Melaka entrusted Sam Somerville between the posts, with Irfan Zakaria wearing the captain’s armband. Newly signed import striker Ahmed Shamsaldin spearheaded the home side’s attack.
Terengganu, meanwhile, fielded Rahadiazli Rahalim as goalkeeper, Shahrul Nizam as skipper, and relied on the attacking duo of Gervane Kastaneer and Akhyar Rashid to unlock the Melaka defense.
Both sides began aggressively, pressing high and looking to strike early. Gervane Kastaneer nearly opened the scoring in the 20th minute with a fierce strike inside the box, but his effort narrowly missed the target.
Melaka responded through Ahmed Shamsaldin, yet Rahadiazli produced a sharp save to keep the hosts at bay.
The breakthrough arrived in the 36th minute when Akhyar Rashid produced a superb finish to tear through Melaka’s defense and give Terengganu a deserved 1-0 lead heading into halftime.
Melaka returned from the break with renewed urgency, pushing forward in search of an equalizer. However, Terengganu continued to dominate large spells, with Kastaneer and Baqiuddin Shamsudin posing constant threats.
Baqiuddin squandered a golden opportunity in the 71st minute after meeting a perfectly weighted cross, failing to double the visitors’ advantage.
Melaka capitalized on that miss just three minutes later. Dino Kalesic unleashed a stunning volley from outside the box in the 74th minute, restoring parity and reigniting hopes among the home supporters.
But Baqiuddin quickly made amends. In the 78th minute, he rifled a powerful right-footed shot from inside the penalty area to restore Terengganu’s lead — a decisive blow that Melaka could not recover from.
The final whistle confirmed a crucial 2-1 away win for Terengganu, strengthening their position in the league standings while leaving Melaka to rue missed chances.
Credit Photo : TFC
