The season of Negeri Sembilan is well and truly alive after the Jangs defeated an under strength Felda United 2-0 in the final game of Group D to join the team they beat in the Malaysia Cup last eight.
Felda, who had confirmed their quarterfinal berth after a 3-0 win against Terengganu last week, rested their goal machine Francis Forkey Doe, along with their midfield dynamo Zah Rahan Krangar, for the trip to Seremban.
Despite their absence, Irfan Bakti's side just about shaded the first half, as Ahmad Syamim Yahya and Fakri Saarani both had efforts on target that were comfortably saved by Negeri custodian Syed Adney.
Negeri, knowing a win would guarantee a knockout berth, were a different side after the break, as French striker Goran Jerkovic's cheeky lob agonisingly bounced off the crossbar, with Felda goalkeeper Suffian Rahman beaten in the 47th minute.
It wouldn't matter, as Jerkovic would net his third goal of the tournament, in albeit fortunate circumstances.
Nizam Ruslan's header in front of goal bounced off Felda defender Gilberto Alemao into the path of Jerkovic, who duly stroked home. It was Jerkovic's fifth strike in his last 10 appearances.
.@PBNSRasmi have qualified for the Malaysia Cup quarter-finals for the first time since 2012. #TMPialaMalaysia2016
- Football Malaysia (@footballmasllp) August 19, 2016
Three minutes later, Negeri went 2-0 up with Ruslan notching a goal for himself. The winger had time and space for an effort from a tight angle, which was deflected off Nor Fazly Alias to give the host breathing space.
Felda's misery was compounded when winger Christie Jayaseelan was stretched off injured on the hour mark, and in came Hadin Azman.
But Hadin was powerless to do anything as the 2011 Malaysia Cup champions saw the game off comfortably to sail into the last eight, where they will meet Kedah, who topped Group A.
Kedah grabbed first spot in Group A after three second-half goals gave them a 3-0 victory in Sarawak. In the same group, the already eliminated JDT II defeated T-Team 1-0.
And in Group D, a 2-0 victory by Melaka United at Terengganu was in vain, with both sides failing to advance to the knockout stages.