JOHOR BAHRU, Apr 22 – To end the first round matches with an unbeaten record is something Johor Darul Takzim (JDT) can ride on for the second round matches in Group I of the AFC Champions League.
On Thursday, the Southern Tigers held mighty Kawasaki Frontale to a scoreless draw at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium in Iskandar Puteri, Johor Bahru.
The stalemate against the favoured Japanese outfit came in the wake of a 2-1 win over South Korea side Ulsan Hyundai and a 5-0 whitewash of China’s Guangzhou FC in their opening match.
For coaches Benjamin Mora (JDT) and Toru Oniki (Kawasaki) it was a “fair result” but it was the Mexican who was more than pleased to see his Southern Tigers sitting on the top of the group with seven points without conceding a goal.
JDT is followed by Kawasaki on five points and Ulsan Hyundai on four points. Guangzhou is at the bottom without a point and a goal to show.
Thursday’s match also saw the return of JDT’s number one goalkeeper Farizal Marlias – who was playing his first match in the group.
The national number one sat out the first two matches due to a head injury and his place was taken by Haziq Nadzli.
Haziq himself picked up a shoulder injury against Ulsan and place was taken over by Izham Tarmizi. Against Kawasaki, Mora brought back Farizal and the veteran keeper had an outstanding game in the Japanese club.
About The Author
