JDT strike inside 61 seconds to sink Selangor and lift Charity Shield

KUALA LUMPUR: Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) needed just over a minute to stamp their authority on the Charity Shield with a 3-0 win over Selangor at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium on Friday.

A lightning-fast opener in the 61st second by Brazilian debutant Jairo Da Silva set the tone, earning the Southern Tigers their 10th Charity Shield title since the league’s privatisation in 2015.

Despite a scare in the 25th minute when new captain Samu Castillejo limped off after a knock, the Southern Tigers didn’t lose their rhythm. Bergson Da Silva came off the bench to maintain the pressure on a struggling Selangor defence.

JDT’s second came in the 64th minute via a well-worked set-piece. Arif Aiman Hanapi, sharp throughout the game, delivered a perfect corner that was met by a powerful header from Azerbaijani midfielder Eddy Israfilov to make it 2-0.

Nine minutes later, Arif became the goalscorer. Picking up the ball in space, the 2024 Most Valuable Player weaved through the backline before calmly slotting past the keeper to seal the result.

Selangor, still searching for their first Charity Shield triumph in the Super League era, struggled to match JDT’s tempo and structure. Coach Katsuhito Kinoshi’s men showed flashes of intent but rarely troubled Syihan Hazmi in goal.

With the Charity Shield secured and a dominant performance, JDT have once again made it clear – they remain the gold standard in Malaysian football.

© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd

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