PETALING JAYA: Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) are staring at a must-win scenario in the AFC Champions League Elite after slipping to a 1-2 defeat to Japan’s Sanfrecce Hiroshima.
Captain Afiq Fazail, who was seen consoling his teammates after the final whistle at the Edion Peace Wing Hiroshima Stadium, acknowledged that JDT now face a do-or-die situation in their continental campaign.
The Southern Tigers, currently seventh in the standings with eight points, must defeat table-toppers Vissel Kobe in their final league-stage match at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium on Feb 17 to secure a place in the knockout rounds.
“No player likes to lose. We are obviously disappointed, but we have to take it on the chin, move on and give everything we’ve got in the last game of the competition,” said the 31-year-old Afiq, who has been with the club since 2015.
JDT made a flying start in Hiroshima when Brazilian winger Marcos Guilherme struck in the third minute, capitalising on a poor back pass from Sanfrecce centreback Taichi Yamasaki.
However, the game turned midway through the first half. Wingback Jonathan Silva handled the ball on the goal line after goalkeeper Andoni Zubiaurre had punched it upwards instead of away, preventing it from crossing into the net.
Referee Ma Ning showed no hesitation in awarding a penalty and issuing a straight red card to the Argentinian.
Young striker Akito Suzuki stepped up and calmly converted the spot-kick to level the score at 1-1.
Sanfrecce seized the momentum and went ahead just two minutes into the second half. Suzuki struck again in the 47th minute, heading home a corner from winger Naoki Maeda to give the hosts a 2-1 lead.
“When we went down to 10 men, we worked hard to protect the 1-1 result, but conceding from a set-piece was tough,” said Afiq.
“It reminds us that we need to improve. The next game is simple – do our best against Vissel Kobe and get the points we need. That’s our focus when we return to continental action.”
JDT coach Xisco Munoz admitted the red card proved decisive.
“The penalty situation changed the game. Losing a player at this level, where matches are decided by small details, makes it very difficult to maintain control,” he said.
“I thought we started well and had the momentum after scoring. But the red card shifted everything. Playing with 10 men for around 80 minutes against a team of this quality is not easy.
“The players showed character, intensity and commitment despite the circumstances. We must learn from these small mistakes if we want to consistently compete at this level.
“Now, we have to recover quickly and focus on the next match.
“The players are working hard to earn points, and we must stay positive.”
JDT’s next task is a Malaysia Cup tie as they take on Melaka in the quarter-final first-leg at the Hang Jebat Stadium tomorrow.
