Johor Darul Ta’Zim recorded their first defeat of the Spanish pre-season tour, falling 1-0 to Valencia Mestalla in their fifth friendly match early Tuesday morning.
The match, held at Estadi Olímpic Camilo Cano, saw JDT take on Valencia Mestalla, the feeder team for LaLiga giants Valencia CF. Under the guidance of head coach Xisco Muñoz, the Southern Tigers fielded a strong starting XI featuring the likes of La’Vere Corbin Ong, Christian Abad, and Park Jun-heong.
Despite their attacking intentions, it was the home side that broke the deadlock. Jaume Dura, a 17-year-old midfield prodigy, capitalised on a defensive lapse to score the only goal of the game in the 35th minute, giving Mestalla a 1-0 lead heading into halftime.
JDT responded with urgency, launching multiple attacking waves in search of an equaliser. However, the Spanish side held firm, with the Southern Tigers unable to convert their chances before the final whistle.
The defeat marks JDT’s first loss in Spain after an impressive unbeaten run in their previous four pre-season encounters, including a draw against Segunda División champions Levante UD.
Next, JDT will look to bounce back when they face Qatar Stars League side Al-Rayyan SC on 16 July at the San Pedro Del Pinatar Training Complex. The clash marks JDT’s sixth pre-season fixture on Spanish soil as preparations intensify ahead of the 2024/25 Malaysian Super League restart in August.
Credit Photo : JST
