PETALING JAYA: In a Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) side filled with hotshots, their new Iranian forward Shahab Zahedi has burst out of the blocks quicker than expected.
The 31-year-old, who joined the Southern Tigers this season from Japanese top-flight side Avispa Fukuoka, has already scored five goals in just two matches.
In JDT’s 9-0 demolition of Kelantan at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium on Wednesday, Zahedi hit the mark four times - in the second, 37th, 50th and 61st minutes - to cap a glorious night.
The rest of JDT’s goals came via an own goal by Kelantan centreback Mohd Faudzi, Brazilian striker Jairo Da Silva (47th), Matias Nahuel (77th), Azerbaijani centreback Eddy Israfilov (81st), and captain and winger Arif Aiman Hanapi (89th).
Said a grateful Zahedi, “I would like to thank the fans who came to the game. I hope we made them happy,” he said.
“I promise we are going to push every day, give more and more, to make a difference in the league.
“Not forgetting the AFC Champions League Elite and the other competitions we are in. For sure, the way we enter matches, we want to beat everybody.”
The 12-time Super League champions face Star City at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium today, with many expecting Xisco Munoz’s JDT side - buoyed by the in-form Zahedi - to brush past their opponents.
Even if Zahedi is not on the scoresheet, there are others like Jairo or Bergson Da Silva who can hunt for goals.
Star City, meanwhile, will be looking to bounce back after an opening-day defeat to Sabah, going down 3-1 at the Likas Stadium in Kota Kinabalu on Monday.
Coach Mehmet Durakovic said the loss was very hard to take.
‘’It’s never easy coming to Sabah with a lot of new and young players in the squad.
“But I’ve got to congratulate my players – they fought till the end. Sabah are a very good side, and they deserved the win.’’
