Johor Darul Ta’zim FC climbed up to second place in the eastern league phase standings of the AFC Champions League Elite as Xisco Muñoz’s side handed Chinese Super League team Shanghai Shenhua FC a 3-1 defeat at Sultan Ibrahim Stadium.
Jonathan Silva struck twice for the reigning Malaysia Super League champions, who sit two points behind leaders Vissel Kobe FC from Japan as the opening round of the competition reaches the midway point.
After a goalless first half, Silva put JDT in front when he converted at close range following a mesmerizing run down the right side of the penalty area by Arif Aiman in the 48th minute.
Óscar Arribas doubled the lead 15 minutes later when he controlled the ball on his chest before smashing his shot into the bottom corner from the edge of the area.
Saulo Mineiro halved the deficit from the penalty spot for Shenhua in the 71st minute but Silva thumped his second into top corner with two minutes to go after another assist from Arif to give JDT their second win of the league phase.
“(This is) a massive win that’s important to us,” said Muñoz. “We are working every day to arrive at levels like this. I’m very happy for the players because they suffered every day and today they showed their character, rhythm, capacity and played very well.”
The first eight finishers in the 12-team league phase in both east and west Asia advance to the knockout rounds of the competition, which will begin in March.
ASEAN Club Championship Shopee Cup™ holders Buriram United FC also picked up three points as Mark Jackson’s side secured a 2-0 win over reigning Chinese Super League champions Shanghai Port FC.
Supachai Chaided put Buriram ahead in front of their own fans when he slid in to convert Robert Žulj’s through ball in the 15th minute and Curtis Good sealed the win in the 65th minute with a close range finish.
The result takes Buriram United onto six points and into sixth in the standings, level with Gangwon FC from Korea Republic and Australia’s Melbourne City FC.
In the AFC Champions League Two, Công An Hà Nội FC slipped to a 2-1 loss against Macarthur FC from Australia when Anthony Caceres’ deflected strike in the 75th minute earned the A-League outfit victory.
That result leaves the V.League 1 side second in Group E on five points with two matches remaining. The top two finishers in each group in the competition advance to the next phase.
Nam Định FC lost 1-0 to Japan’s Gamba Osaka FC to sit in second place in Group F while Bangkok United FC opened up a two-point lead in Group G with a 2-0 win over Lion City Sailors FC.
Muhsen Al-Ghassani put the visitors in front in the second minute of first half stoppage time and Luka Adžić confirmed the win for Totchtawan Sripan’s side with seven minutes remaining at Bishan Stadium.
Selangor FC, meanwhile, lost 3-2 to Persib Bandung to remain bottom of Group G.
Tampines Rovers FC claimed a 1-1 draw with Pohang Steelers FC in Korea Republic to remain on top of Group H, three points clear of the three-times Asian champions with BG Pathum United FC in third after their 2-1 win over Kaya FC-Iloilo from the Philippines.
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