KUALA LUMPUR: Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) reignited their Asian Champions League Elite (ACLE) campaign with a commanding 3-1 victory over Shanghai Shenhua at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium on Wednesday.
The Southern Tigers produced one of their most complete performances of the season to notch their second win, keeping alive their push for a top-eight finish in the ACLE East League.
JDT’s relentless attack saw Jairo Da Silva break the deadlock in the 23rd minute, but his goal was ruled out for offside.
Both sides attacked but could not find the finishing touch and the stalemate persisted until half-time.
JDT came out stronger after the break and were rewarded when Jonathan Silva broke the deadlock in the 48th minute.
Oscar Arribas extended JDT’s lead in the 63rd minute, with a left-footed shot from outside the box to the bottom right corner from Afiq Fazail’s cross.
Shenhua were handed a lifeline when Xu Haoyang was felled in the box by Natxo Insa, leading to a penalty that Saulo Mineiro converted in the 71st minute.
The visitors pushed for an equaliser but were undone late on when Silva struck again in the 88th minute with an assist by Arif Aiman.
Shenhua’s hopes of a late comeback were dashed after VAR disallowed their second goal for a foul in the build-up.
The 3-1 victory lifted JDT to second in the ACLE East League standings with seven points, edging South Korean giants Ulsan HD on goal difference.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
