AFC Champions League Elite
Three second-half goals secured JDT their second consecutive win, while Port FC suffered a third straight defeat.
JDT, who were unchanged in their starting lineup from the 2-0 win over Pohang Steelers on Matchday Two, made a positive start with Shahab Zahedi testing Port goalkeeper Michael Falkesgaard from distance in the ninth minute.
The Malaysian side continued to press high with Marcos Guilherme playing Zahedi into the box, only for the Port defence to snuff out the danger, before Arif Aiman’s cross flashed a cross across the face of goal two minutes later.
Port remained rooted under pressure, with Oscar Arribas coming close in the 19th minute, narrowly going wide of the left post from a set-piece situation before Arif pulled a long-range effort just wide.
Falkesgaard had to be resilient just before the half-hour mark when he kept out Arif’s stinging shot from just above the box, before denying the midfiler again in the 41st minute.
Port struggled to contain Arif, who surged through the middle past his marker only to be denied by Falkesgaard’s brilliance as the score remained goalless going into the break.
MD3: Johor Darul Ta’zim (MAS) v Port FC (THA)
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Arif continued to pull the strings in the second period with the midfielder sending his powerful drive from outside the area just over the bar, with Port going close to snatching the lead moments later.
Bruno attempted to feed the ball back to Peeradol Chamrasamee at the top of the box, but Nacho Mendez’s clearance floated over the sea of players and rattled the bar.
JDT’s persistence was finally rewarded in the 53rd minute after Arif surged down the left channel and floated a pin-point cross to Jonathan Silva to volley home a low finish past Falkesgaard.
Another counter-attacking move saw Xisco Munoz’s side double their lead in the 61st minute after Arribas crossed for substitute Bergson, whose headed attempt took a deflection off Peerawat Akkratum before settling in the back of the net.
Port fell further behind in the 86th minute from another JDT fast break with Marcos Guilherme leading the move down the right, teeing-up Nahuel Leiva who set-up Stoichkov for a fine finish to seal the deserved victory.
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