Johor Darul Ta’zim kicked off their Shopee Cup 2025/26 campaign in style, claiming all three points with a 3-1 victory over Singapore’s Lion City Sailors in a Group A encounter at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium, Iskandar Puteri.
The Malaysian champions wasted no time asserting their dominance, taking the lead as early as the 8th minute. Jairo Da Silva was brought down inside the box by Safuwan Baharudin, leaving the referee no choice but to award a penalty. Brazilian forward João Figueredo calmly converted from the spot to put JDT ahead 1-0.
Just nine minutes later, the Southern Tigers doubled their advantage. Arif Aiman dazzled on the right wing before cutting the ball into the middle, where Figueredo collected and fired a precise finish into the far corner for his second of the night, giving JDT a commanding 2-0 lead.
The scoreline remained unchanged at halftime, with JDT firmly in control.
The second half saw LCS push forward in search of a way back into the match. In the 57th minute, Bart Ramselaar’s clever through pass found Anderson Lopes, but the Brazilian striker failed to hit the target. Lopes thought he had scored 22 minutes later with a powerful header, only for the assistant referee’s flag to rule him offside.
JDT put the contest to bed deep into stoppage time. In the 92nd minute, Arif Aiman capped his lively performance with a stunning free-kick that curled into the far post, extending the hosts’ lead to 3-0.
The Sailors managed to salvage some pride before the final whistle when Shawal Anuar struck from distance in the dying moments to reduce the deficit to 3-1, but it proved no more than a consolation.
The result sees JDT secure their first three points in Group A, making a strong start to their Shopee Cup journey. Lion City Sailors, meanwhile, will need to regroup quickly if they are to stay competitive in the group stage.
Credit Photo : JST
