KUALA LUMPUR: Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) are on the verge of another historic milestone, needing just one more step to secure a place in the round of 16 of the AFC Champions League Elite (ACLE).
To seal their spot, the Southern Tigers must overcome South Korean powerhouse Pohang Steelers in their final group match next Tuesday.
The advantage, however, lies with JDT as they will have the backing of their home crowd at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium in Iskandar Puteri.
Head coach Hector Bidoglio is confident that JDT’s hard-fought 2-1 victory over Central Coast Mariners has given his squad a crucial morale boost ahead of the decisive clash.
Adding to the intrigue, both goals were netted by new import defender Alvaro Gonzalez, who marked his return to competitive football after a seven-month absence in stunning fashion.
“We knew this was going to be a difficult game but I’m very happy with the performance of the players.
“We scored twice and showed all the time that we want to keep possession and control the pitch.
“This is a very important result for the club but now we need to continue working and focus on the next game because it’s another important one for us. We will do our best to qualify,” said Bidoglio.
JDT currently sit in fifth place in the group standings with 11 points. Only the top eight teams from the group stage will advance to the Round of 16.
At the same time, Bidoglio is still awaiting an update on Spanish midfielder Roque Mesa, who was forced off after just 26 minutes in the first half due to injury.
“I am still unsure about his condition. I just hope it is nothing serious,” said Bidoglio.
