Defending AFC Cup champions Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) overcame a penalty miss from captain Safiq Rahim in a 2-1 victory over Hong Kong's South China in the second leg of the quarterfinals on Tuesday night.
Argentine strikers Juan Martin Lucero and Jorge Pereyra Diaz scored JDT's goals in the second half at Larkin Stadium to give the Malaysian giants a 3-2 win on aggregate.
JDT will play the winners of Tampines Rovers, of Singapore, and Indian champions Bengaluru FC in next month's semifinals.
Both teams played out a 1-1 draw in last week's first leg, and this return tie had all the makings of an encapsulating contest.
The much anticipated rematch between familiar foes did not disappoint. The opening half was one of the most entertaining 45 minutes this season at the Larkin, where the home side had won 18 in 21 games in 2016.
Aware that an early goal would give them a huge boost, South China started brightly and fashioned the first chance in the sixth minute. Mahama Awal's cross was overcooked, and failed to find first-leg scorer Nikola Komazec in a good position.
The game was warming up nicely, with both sides presented chances to take the lead in the space of half a dozen minutes.
On 15 minutes, Harris Harun drew an impeccable near-post save from Tsang Man Fai. Two minutes later, the Singapore midfielder picked out Jorge Pereyra Diaz with a clever pass, but the Argentine ballooned his effort.
Komazec then should have given South China the lead in the 19th minute, but could only shoot straight at Izham Tarmizi.
JDT lost right-back S. Kunanlan on the half hour through injury, and in came Azrif Nasrulhaq as the hosts looked to take a stranglehold. They almost did through an Azamuddin Akil piledriver in the 32nd minute, which rattled the crossbar.
It did not take JDT long to make an impact in the second half.
They were awarded a penalty four minutes after the restart when Diaz was fouled by Man Fai in the box. Up stepped Safiq, who was fortunate to be on the field after an apparent stamp on the goalkeeper in the first half. JDT's captain, however, lost his battle with Man Fai, who sprung low to his left to parry the spot kick to safety.
2016 AFC CUP - QUARTER FINAL 2ND LEG
20 SEPT 2016JDT [2-1] SOUTH CHINA
(Juan Martin 57' / Jorge Pereyra Díaz 87')
(Nikola Komazec 90'+5) pic.twitter.com/6dcFNorOnA- JOHORSouthernTigers (@OfficialJohor) September 20, 2016
But the Southern Tigers did not have to wait long to get their opener, which arrived through Juan Martin Lucero in the 52nd minute. Azamuddin saw his initial cross blocked, but found the Argentine on the second attempt, who directed the low delivery into the bottom corner.
Powered by the striker's sixth goal of the tournament, JDT surged forward to increase their advantage, but were denied by the woodwork on two more occasions.
First, Fazly Mazlan saw his screamer rattle the underside of the bar before Azniee Taib did the same from point blank.
The defending champions, however, sealed the deal two minutes before the end, as Diaz headed home Safiq's corner from a tight angle.
A Marcos Antonio error allowed Komazec to nip in and reduce the deficit deep into injury time, but JDT were home and dry by then.
JDT: Izham Tarmizi (GK), Azamuddin Akil (Gary Steven Robbat 71'), Marcos Antonio, Aidil Zafuan, Safiq Rahim (C), Jorge Pereyra Diaz, S. Kunanlan (Azrif Nasrulhaq 30'), Hariss Harun, Fazly Mazlan, Azniee Taib (Amri Yahyah 86'), Juan Martin Lucero
South China: Tsang Man Fai (GK), Chan Siu Ki (Ryan Griffiths 69'), Mahama Awal, Chan Wai Ho, Nikola Komazec, Chan Siu Kwan, Law Hiu Chung, Bojan Malisic (C), Leung Kwun Chung, Leung Nok Hang, Wisdom Agbo (Lo Kong Wai 52')