TFC DEFEATS NSFC 2-0 TO MAINTAIN FOURTH SPOT IN LEAGUE TABLE

SEREMBAN, Feb 9 (Bernama) — Terengganu FC (TFC) returned to winning ways and collected three points after beating Negeri Sembilan FC (NSFC) 2-0 in a Super League match at the Tuanku Abdul Rahman Stadium in Paroi, here tonight.

TFC who lost to BG Pathum United in their pursuit to qualify for the semi-finals of the Asean Club Championship (ACC) last week, came back to score a comfortable win against the home team.

Badrul Afzan Razali's squad started aggressively with several dangerous attempts on the home goal but the NSFC defence managed to keep them at bay.

However, the Turtles' continued efforts paid off through a goal by import Nurillo Tukhtasinov from a 30-metre freekick which deceived goalkeeper, Muhamad Aqil Abdul Razak in the 25th minute.

TFC remained in control of the match with two dangerous attempts outside the box through Safawi Rashid and Akhyar Abd Rashid in the 39th and 43rd minutes but failed to hit the target before the end of the first half.

The start of the second half saw NSFC continue to increase the intensity of the game and almost equalized in the 58th minute through an attempt by imported player, Jacque Faye but defender Safwan Mazlan saved a goal-bound effort, managing to clear the ball from the goal line.

The visitors were awarded a penalty via video assistant referee (VAR) after the ball hit the hands of an NSFC player in the penalty box which Nelson Bonilla quickly put away in the 79th minute to put TFC comfortably in front.

The victory puts TFC in fourth place in the league table with 27 points while NSFC is in 12th position with nine points.

— BERNAMA