Johor Darul Ta’zim FC secured a 3-1 home win over Sanfrecce Hiroshima in the Asian Champions League Elite Round of 16 first leg

JOHOR Darul Ta’zim FC (JDT) secured a commanding 3-1 victory over Japan’s Sanfrecce Hiroshima in the first leg of their Asian Champions League Elite Round of 16 tie. The match took place at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium tonight.

The result gives Xisco Munoz’s side a significant advantage heading into the second leg in Hiroshima on March 11. The contest was balanced until Sanfrecce Hiroshima’s Kim Ju Sung received a red card in the 26th minute.

Kim had earlier been booked for a foul on Jairo De Macedo. His dismissal for bringing down Nene forced his team to play with ten men for most of the match.

JDT capitalised on their numerical advantage after the break. Ager Aketxe Barrutia opened the scoring in the 52nd minute.

Bergson Da Silva then doubled the lead in the 63rd minute from a Joao Vitor Figueiredo assist. Marcos Guilherme added a third for the hosts in the 84th minute following a cross by Oscar Arribas.

Sanfrecce Hiroshima managed a late consolation goal a minute later via an own goal from Nene. The 3-1 scoreline held until the final whistle.

This victory avenges a 2-1 group stage loss JDT suffered against the same opponents in February. On that occasion, JDT played with ten men for most of the match.

 The Sun Malaysia