PETALING JAYA: Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) marked the return of their three mixed-heritage players with a convincing 3-0 win over Myanmar’s Shan United in their Asean Club Championship Shopee Cup Group B match at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium in Iskandar Puteri on Thursday (Jan 29).
Midfielder Hector Hevel, centre-back Jon Irazabal and striker Joao Figueiredo all started after being granted a temporary stay by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), allowing them to play while their appeal against FIFA’s 12-month suspension over falsified documentation is ongoing.
Their presence was immediately felt.
Figueiredo supplied a defence-splitting assist, Hevel delivered a corner that led to a goal, and Irazabal anchored the backline as JDT sealed their third win of the competition and booked a place in the semi-finals.
Brazilian striker Bergson da Silva then provided the finishing touch, coming off the bench to score twice in the space of seven minutes - in the 66th and 70th minutes.
JDT dominated possession in the first half but were kept at bay by a disciplined Shan United defence.
The breakthrough finally arrived in the 65th minute when Oscar Arribas converted a corner taken by Yago Cesar.
A minute later, Bergson doubled the lead after being set up by Figueiredo, before rising highest to head home his second from a Hevel corner.
The win puts JDT top of the group with 10 points from four matches, though their position could change if Nam Dinh, who have nine points from three games, beat Lions City Sailors later today.
