AFC Champions League Elite
JDT, making their third appearance in the last 16 in four seasons, advanced as Bartosh Gaul’s J1 League outfit could only halve the 3-1 deficit from the first leg in Johor when Kosuke Kinoshita’s 90th minute penalty gave Hiroshima hope late in the match.
The successful spot-kick was a solitary blemish on an otherwise disciplined defensive display by the visitors, who join Buriram United, Machida Zelvia and Vissel Kobe in progressing to the next round.
The hosts threatened in the 17th minute when JDT’s backline only partially cleared a centre from the right, the ball landing at the feet of Hayao Kawabe, whose strike towards goal was deflected wide by Cristian Glauder’s block.
From the resulting corner, Hayato Araki rose highest to meet Takaaki Shichi’s delivery from the right but his downward header bounced wide of Andoni Zubiaurre’s post as Hiroshima sought to haul themselves back into the tie.
Sho Sasaki needed to be at his sharpest to intervene at the other end four minutes before the interval when the Sanfrecce captain slid in to prevent Jairo from pulling the trigger as he ran in on goal.
JDT, however, kept their hosts under pressure and Oscar Arribas’s attempt on goal was pushed unconvincingly onto the right post by Hiroshima goalkeeper Keisuke Osako.
Shuto Nakano swept his pass from deep into the path of Ryo Germain eight minutes into the second half but the Japan international forward sliced his attempt wide as Hiroshima grew ever more desperate to reduce JDT’s overall lead.
Germain went close again in the 58th minute, steering Naoto Arai’s looping cross from the right of the target. Kawabe was also denied before Kinoshita glanced a header went wide.
JDT were defending diligently while carrying a threat on the counterattack and at set pieces. Osako was called upon to push Ager Aketxe’s dipping and swerving free kick from deep clear of his goal in the 71st minute.
The Malaysians survived an 85th minute VAR review by referee Mohammed Al Hoish when Kawabe went down in the penalty area in a tussle with Eddy Israfilov with the Saudi Arabian official ruling there was no infringement.
Al Hoish did point to the spot five minutes later, however, when Nene was judged to have handled in the area as the ball bobbled around the six yard box and Kinoshita smashed home the spot-kick but it was not enough to deny JDT’s celebrations on the final whistle.
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