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.

The Albanian international then robbed Feroz Baharudin of the ball near the halfway line and proceeded to slot past Zubiaurre three minutes later.

The visitors did regain their composure with Arif Aiman’s shot from outside the box in the 12th minute forcing Kim Kyeong-min into a save.

JDT kept up the pressure and were rewarded in the 28th minute as Feroz made amends for his earlier error when he rose unchallenged at the near post to nod home Juan Muniz’s corner kick.

Another corner kick routine four minutes before the break nearly drew JDT level, Muniz with a smart pass to Oscar Arribas whose side-footed attempt just curled wide of the far post.

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.

Chances were few and far in between with one from each side in Byeon Jun-soo’s header and a Muniz volley from distance.

As the clock ticked down, Johor Darul Ta'zim head coach Hector Bidoglio threw on former Real Madrid forward Jese Rodriguez, Heberty and Bergson in search of the equaliser but it was Gwangju who found a third through Heo Yool, whose header off Asani’s cross took a deflection off Park Jun-heong to seal the win for the home side.