PETALING JAYA: Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) recorded their second consecutive win in the AFC Champions League (ACL) Elite after beating Chinese club Shanghai Shenhua 3-1 at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium in Iskandar Puteri on Wednesday (Nov 5).
JDT were dealt a blow in the 19th minute when key midfielder from Spain Ager Aketxe was taken off due to injury, replaced by another midfielder Afiq Fazail, who proved to be one of the catalysts in the team’s win.
The Southern Tigers took the lead in the 48th minute when Argentinian wingback Jonathan Silva finished off a deflected cross from Arif Aiman Hanapi.
Spanish wingback Oscar Arribas doubled the lead in the 63rd minute with a superb individual effort when he controlled a cross from Afiq Fazail with his left foot, then spun a defender and unleashed a superb low-drilled shot to beat Shanghai goalkeeper Bao Yaxiong.
The home side reduced the deficit in the 71st minute when substitute Brazilian striker Saulo Mineiro buried from the penalty spot to beat JDT goalkeeper Andoni Zubiaurre.
Silva ensured JDT ended the night victor when he scored the second in the 87th minute, again, finishing off a low-drilled pass from Arif.
Before the game against Shanghai, JDT beat another Chinese club Chengdu Rongcheng 2-0 on Oct 21.
The win sees the Southern club moving to second in the standings with seven points from four matches, while Shanghai dropped to 11th with four points from four games.
