In high gear: Johor Darul Ta’zim Bergson Da Silva rising to head the ball during their AFC Champions League Elite match against Pohang Steelers on Tuesday. — Bernama
KUALA LUMPUR: Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) not only secured their place in the AFC Champions League Elite round of 16 but also earned a financial windfall following their emphatic 5-2 victory over Pohang Steelers at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium on Tuesday night.
The Southern Tigers pocketed RM444,000 for the win, adding to the RM889,000 they received for advancing to the knockout stage. In total, JDT have accumulated a staggering RM6.2mil in prize money throughout this AFC Champions League Elite campaign.
At the start of the tournament, JDT had already secured RM3.5mil for qualifying for the group stage.
Each victory at this level rewarded them with RM444,000, leading to a total of RM1.7mil from their four group-stage wins against Shanghai Shenhua, Ulsan HD, Central Coast Mariners and Pohang Steelers.
In addition to the prize money, JDT benefited from a RM222,000 travel subsidy provided by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), further boosting their financial standing.
JDT celebrated a spectacular night at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium as five players found the net. Oscar Arribas, Bergson Da Silva, Arif Aiman Hanapi, Jese Rodriguez and Jorge Obregon each scored to seal the victory.
Pohang Steelers managed to pull two goals back through Lee Ho-jae and Hyeon Je-kang.
For JDT head coach Hector Bidoglio, despite his team’s emphatic victory over the South Korean side, the win did not come easily.
He stressed that meticulous planning was crucial in ensuring their success and securing a spot in the next round.
“Tonight, every player delivered an outstanding performance, executing our tactical plans to perfection. We knew facing a Korean club would be no easy task and breaking through their defensive line proved to be a real challenge,” he said.
“Even after conceding an early goal, I told the players to remain composed and stick to our game plan. Every pass was executed with precision and our equaliser came at a moment when their defence momentarily lost focus.
“In the first half, Pohang Steelers tried to break our defensive structure by attacking with five players while keeping only three or four at the back.
‘‘That made it difficult for us to implement high pressing.’’
JDT finished fourth in Group A with 14 points, behind three Japanese clubs - Kawasaki Frontale, Yokohama F. Marinos and Vissel Kobe.
Also advancing from the group were Gwangju FC, Buriram United, Shanghai Shenhua and Shandong Taishan.
As they prepare to face Gwangju FC in the round of 16, JDT stand to gain even more if they continue their winning run.
A quarter-final berth would see them earn an additional RM1.7mil while reaching the semi-finals would bring in another RM2.6 million.
Should they go all the way, the champions will take home a massive RM44 million, while the runners-up will be awarded RM17 million, making it one of the most lucrative competitions in Asian club football.
This is the second time JDT have reached the knockout stage, having previously qualified in 2022.
However, their campaign ended with a heavy 5-0 defeat to Japan’s Urawa Red Diamonds.
