ACL Elite: Guilherme Double to JDT End Their Korean Drought

Brazilian forward scores either side of Jeon Min-gwang's red card to hand Johor Darul Ta'zim a first ACL Elite win of the season and leave Pohang pointless after two games

Marcos Guilherme struck twice in the second half as Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) beat a 10-man Pohang Steelers 2-0 at the Steelyard in the second round of the AFC Champions League Elite (ACLE) league stage, ending the Malaysian champions' wait for a win on South Korean soil.

The result gives JDT their first three points of the campaign, taking them to four after a 1-1 draw with Buriram United in their opener. Pohang, already beaten 3-1 by Beijing Guoan, have lost both games and have no points.

Xisco Muñoz made a change to his line-up, pairing Antonio Glauder with Kevin Medina because Eddy Israfilov is serving a two-match suspension. Pohang coach Park Tae-ha leaned on German striker Jakob Tranziska for goals.

JDT started on the front foot, with Shahab Zahedi, Guilherme and captain Arif Aiman Hanapi leading the attack. Zahedi came close in the 16th minute when his effort struck the post, and later, 20-year-old Pohang goalkeeper Hong Sung-min kept out a fierce left-sided shot from the Iranian.

The game turned before the break. Pohang captain Jeon Min-gwang was sent off after VAR judged that he had fouled Zahedi as the last defender. Both sides kept trying, but it was goalless at half-time.

Park responded at the interval, making two changes: veteran playmaker Ki Sung-yueng and Jin Si-woo made way, and Kim Seung-ho came on.

It was JDT who found the breakthrough, though, in the 49th minute. Zahedi picked out Guilherme, who calmly beat Hong to open the scoring.

Pohang kept pushing for an equaliser despite their numerical disadvantage, which prompted Muñoz to add attacking quality with Bergson da Silva and Jairo da Silva. The Steelers could not find a way back.

Guilherme sealed it in the 89th minute. Bergson's shot hit the post, and the former V-Varen Nagasaki player had an easy finish on the rebound to wrap up a perfect night for the visitors.

Credit Photo : AFC