PETALING JAYA: Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) came from behind to beat Pohang Steelers 5-2 tonight to clinch their spot in the Asian Champions League Elite (ACLE) knockout stage in Iskandar Puteri.
The win means JDT will finish in fourth spot in the East Zone while three-time Asian champions Pohang - who end their campaign on nine points - were eliminated.
The breakthrough came in the 27th minute as Pohang became the first away side to score at Sultan Ibrahim Stadium this season when Jorge Luiz swung in a cross from the left that was met by an unmarked Lee Ho-jae who nodded home the opener.
Spurred on by the home crowd, JDT burst into life 10 minutes later as Oscar Arribas tucked away a rebound.
After the break, JDT were rewarded in the 52nd minute when Bergson shrugged off the challenge of Lee Dong-hee to squeeze in a shot from an acute angle. Arif Aiman Hanapi coolly slotted home in the 56th minute to extend JDT’s advantage.
Pohang pulled one back through Kang Hyeon-je in the 80th but Jese Rodriguez’s stoppage time goal restored JDT’s two-goal lead.
The icing on the cake came in the 15th minute of added time when Jorge Obregon stepped up to convert from 12 yards as JDT marched into the knockout stage with a comprehensive win.
