SINGAPORE: Johor Darul Ta’zim FC made a winning start to the Asean Club Championship Shopee Cup 2025/26 on Thursday night (Aug 21) as a Joao Figueiredo brace helped secure a 3-1 win over Group B rivals Lion City Sailors from Singapore at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium.
The Malaysian Super League champions are joined at the top of the early standings by Cambodia’s PKR Svay Rieng FC following their 3-0 win over hosts 10-man Shan United FC from Myanmar in Yangon.
Brazil-born Malaysia international Figueredo netted the opener from the penalty spot in the 11th minute and hit his side’s second five minutes later to establish an unassailable lead for Xisco Munoz’s side.
Arif Aiman scored a third in stoppage time before Shawal Anuar claimed a consolation for Lion City Sailors.
“It’s a very good start to the Shopee Cup,” said Figueredo. “I’m very happy with (the Shopee Star of the Match) award, but the most important was the victory to achieve our targets in the future.
“This will be a long (season) with many matches but we are training hard and recovering very well because every four days we have a match. But we are going to win this Cup and we are ready for that.”
The hosts were given the opportunity to go in front when forward Jairo was brought down six yards from goal by Safuwan Baharudin and Figueredo stepped up after a VAR review to send visiting goalkeeper Ivan Susak the wrong way.
JDT doubled their lead when Arif drove down the right flank before pulling back a centre that the Lion City Sailors defence failed to clear and Figueredo composed himself to beat Susak.
Arif Aiman put the result beyond any doubt two minutes into injury time when he slammed an emphatic strike into the corner as Lion City Sailors were caught out by a quickly-taken Nacho Mendez free kick.
Substitute Shawal thumped his shot past Andoni Zubiarre from 25 yards two minutes later to put the visitors on the scoreboard, but it was little more than a consolation for a well-beaten Lion City Sailors side.
Meanwhile, Cambodian Premier League champions Svay Rieng secured their win over Shan United after Min Ratanak gave the visitors the lead in the 11th minute.
Shan United’s Japanese midfielder Ryuji Hirota was sent off seven minutes later as a result of an off-the-ball clash with compatriot Ryo Fujii and that set Svay Rieng up to cruise to victory.
Brazilian forward Patrick hit the second five minutes into first half stoppage time when he emerged unmarked at a corner to nod Yudai Ogawa’s delivery into the bottom corner of Kyaw Zin Phyo’s goal.
Kwame Peprah was awarded a penalty four minutes into the second half when the Ghanaian was upended in the area by Matheus Souza and he scored with his second attempt after referee Ko Hyung-jin ordered the spot-kick be retaken.
The winners of the Shopee Star of the Match award for today’s games are:
Johor Darul Ta’zim FC vs Lion City Sailors FC: Joao Figueiredo (Jersey No. 25), Johor Darul Ta’zim FC
Shan United FC vs PKR Svay Rieng FC: Patrick (#98), PKR Svay Rieng FC
Note: For more information about the Shopee Cup and other Asean United FC events, visit https://aseanutdfc.com/ and @aseanutdfc on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, X and LinkedIn.
