A late goal from Safee Sali gave Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) a 2-1 win over Ayeyawady United at the Thuwunna Staadium in Yangon on Wednesday and sealed top spot for the defending champions.

In a low-key encounter in Myanmar, the Malaysian team made it five wins from five in Group H. The prize for the Malaysia Super League champions is home advantage for the single match, second round stage while the loss eliminates Ayeyawady.

With a place in the next round already booked and the second leg of the Malaysia FA Cup semifinals against Kedah on Saturday, Johor coach Mario Gomez rested several of his stars, including captain and tournament top scorer Safiq Rahim, key Argentine strikers Jorge Pereyra Diaz and Juan Martin Lucero plus Singapore international Hariss Harun.

The hosts opened the scoring just after 27 minutes with a gift from the Malaysians. Despite plenty of blue shirts in and around the six-yard box, JDT failed to clear a loose ball and Thiha Zaw fired into the roof of the net in emphatic fashion.

Three minutes later, the striker almost got his fourth of the tournament. Christopher Chizoba broke free down the left, crossed into the centre to find his strike partner. Zaw had his back to goal, lifted the ball up with his first touch and lobbed the goalkeeper with his second, only to see his effort bounce back off the crossbar.

Instead of it being 2-0, within seconds it was 1-1. Amirul Hadi Zainal, who was involved with a smart one-two on the right corner of the penalty area with S. Chanturu, ran onto the return pass to drill his shot into the far corner.

The second half was more settled, although JDT came very close on the hour. A cross from the right found Junior Eldstal unmarked at the far post. With the goal at the 24-year-old's mercy, his header flashed back across the face of goal and out.

The Myanmar men almost moved ahead with 11 minutes remaining. Chizoba ran at the defence and the ball bounced off a defender and rolled past Izham Tarmizi but the substitute goalkeeper recovered well to push the ball out.

Seconds later, Azamuddin Akil had a great chance to put the Malaysians ahead but shot into the side netting from the right side of the area.

The winner came with three minutes left. Amri Yahyah's free-kick was headed against the crossbar by Fadhli Shas but Safee Sali was on hand to fire home the rebound.

Johor end the group stage with a home game against newly crowned Indian champions Bengaluru FC on May 11.

Source:
courtesy of ESPNFC

by John Duerden

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