PETALING JAYA: Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) are just one match away from earning a total of US$1mil (RM4.5mil) in the Asian Champions League Elite (ACLE).
The Southern Tigers are already guaranteed a minimum of US$800,000 (RM3.6mil) for qualifying for the competition.
If they beat South Korea’s Pohang Steelers in their final group match on Feb 18 , they will be assured of reaching the round of 16 and thus will add another US$200,000 (RM900,000) to their earnings.
JDT’s hard-fought 2-1 win over Australia’s Central Coast Mariners on Tuesday propelled them to fifth in the East Region standings, where only the top eight teams will advance.
JDT’s hopes of earning a big windfall now rest on new Spanish signings Alvaro Gonzalez, Roque Mesa and Jonathan Viera, whose impact was immediate.
Despite only being in Malaysia for a week, Gonzalez settled in quickly and scored twice on his debut for the Super League champions.
If JDT progress to the ACLE quarter-finals, they stand to gain another US$400,000 (RM1.8mil).
A semi-final berth would add US$600,000 (RM5.4mil) while the eventual champions will pocket US$10mil (RM45mil). The runners-up will receive US$4mil (RM18mil).
