PETALING JAYA: Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) suffered their first defeat in the AFC Champions League (ACL) Elite after losing 2-0 to South Korean side Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors at the Jeonju World Cup Stadium on Tuesday (Nov 3).
There was some consolation for the Malaysian champions, however, with striker Joao Figueiredo and centreback Jon Irazabal making their comebacks after serving one-year suspensions imposed by FIFA for the use of falsified documents.
Jeonbuk broke the deadlock in the 21st minute when towering Brazilian striker Bruno Mota rose to head in a cross from winger Kim Jin-gyu, leaving JDT goalkeeper Ahmad Syihan Hazmi with no chance.
Syihan's night worsened just before the break when he fouled winger Lee Dong-jun in the box. Brazilian winger Italo Vargas converted the penalty in the 45th minute.
Figueiredo, one of seven players banned by FIFA whose suspensions ended on Nov 1, returned to action in the 46th minute, replacing Argentinian wingback Jonathan Silva.
Irazabal, another of the seven, followed in the 86th minute, coming on for Spanish centreback Antonio Glauder.
