PETALING JAYA: Korean top side Gwangju snapped Johor Darul Ta’zim’s (JDT) unbeaten run with a 3-1 win against the Malaysian side in the AFC Champions League Elite in Yongin City, South Korea, yesterday.
Jasir Asani scored twice and assisted in the third for Gwangju to extend his hot streak as the Korean club moved up to nine points while JDT suffered their first defeat in this season’s campaign.
Gwangju surged to a two-goal lead within the opening six minutes with Asani scoring in his third consecutive game.
A switch from the left to right by Oh Su-heong found Asani, who took a touch before curling a beautiful shot past Andoni Zubiaurre in the third minute for his fifth goal of the competition.
Right on target: JDT’s Feroz Baharudin celebrating after scoring against South Korea’s Gwangju during the Asian Champions League Elite in Yongin City. — JDT
The Albanian international then robbed Feroz Baharudin of the ball near the halfway line and proceeded to slot past Zubiaurre three minutes later.
But Feroz made amends for his earlier error in the 28th minute when he rose unchallenged at the near post to nod home Juan Muniz’s corner kick.
The continuous downpour at Yongin Mireu Stadium did not inhibit the playing style of both teams as they continued to play with high intensity, though the shots on target did dry up at both ends of the pitch.
As the clock ticked down, JDT head coach Hector Bidoglio threw on former Real Madrid forward Jese Rodriguez, Heberty Fernandez and Bergson da Silva in search of the equaliser.
But it was Gwangju who found a third goal through Heo Yool, whose header off Asani’s cross took a deflection off JDT’s Park Jun-heong to seal the win for the home side.
Gwangju topped Group A with nine points with Buriram United of Thailand second on five points.
JDT lie in third spot with four points. The Malaysian side earlier drew 2-2 with Shanghai Port and beat Shanghai Shenhua 3-0.
JDT will next take on Korean side Ulsan on Nov 5 at Sultan Ibrahim Stadium.
