Johor Darul Ta’Zim, a club from Malaysia clinched first victory after beating Shanghai Shenhua, scoring 3-0 in the AFC Champions League Elite 2024/25n League Stage(East Zone) at Sultan Ibrahim Stadium, Iskandar Puteri.
The home side wasted no time, launching into attack within the first 20 seconds of the match. Winger Arif Aiman sent a dangerous low cross from the right that should have been converted by Jorge Obregon, but the Colombian missed the target. Obregon had another chance in the 8th minute when the ball ricocheted into his path, giving him a clear sight of goal, but he dragged his shot wide.
Arif quickly redeemed his teammate’s missed opportunities, putting JDT ahead with a brilliant solo effort. After receiving a pass from Muniz, the Malaysian international cut inside from the right and unleashed a powerful left-footed shot that flew past Bao Yaxiong into the bottom corner.
Arif continued to be a thorn in the side of the Shenhua defense and nearly set up a second goal. His cross was flicked in by Iker Undabarrena, but the goal was ruled out for offside. Undeterred, JDT pressed forward, and Obregon made up for his earlier misses by doubling JDT’s lead. This time, the assist came from Murilo, whose perfect cross from the left was met with a clinical header by the Colombian striker.
Just before halftime, Shane Lowry almost added a third for JDT with a long-range strike, but Bao Yaxiong made a superb save, diving full stretch to tip the ball away.
In the second half, JDT continued their relentless attack. Arif remained a constant threat, while Shanghai Shenhua’s best chance came in the 57th minute when Shinichi Chan’s deflected shot nearly found the back of the net. However, it was JDT that kept piling on the pressure, with Murilo narrowly missing the target with a powerful shot across the face of goal.
The final nail in the coffin came in the 75th minute when Muniz sealed the victory with a stunning free kick from 25 yards, curling the ball past Bao into the top corner.
With this dominant display, JDT climbs the table in the East Zone of the AFC Champions League Elite 2024/25, showcasing their ambitions to advance far in the tournament.
Credit Photo : Ashok Kumar/SNE-Photo
