Football
Nicolas Anil 7y

JDT beaten by Global FC in AFC Cup for second straight defeat

2015 champions Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) conceded three goals in eight minutes to slump to a 3-2 defeat away to Global FC on Wednesday night to drop from the top of their group.

With only one team guaranteed a spot in the knockout stages, their Philippines' opponents took over as Group H leaders, with nine points from four matches, compared to JDT's seven points.

The regional Cup defeat was the second consecutive reverse for the Southern Tigers, who lost 3-1 to Pahang in the Malaysia FA Cup quarterfinals on April 1.

As expected, JDT coach Benjamin Mora rang in a raft of personnel changes from the side who lost that first-leg domestic tie.

Aidil Zafuan replaced Fadhli Shas in central defence, while Amirulhadi Zainal, Azamuddin Akil and Nazmi Faiz came in to try and replicate their 4-0 win in their first group clash on March 14.

But Global were a different proposition in this game. After a promising start, the hosts took the lead through their Italian-born defender Dennis Villanueva in the 26th minute.

Shu Sasaki, who impressed in that Larkin thrashing, doubled that advantage five minutes later after beating the offside trap to bury past Izham Tarmizi.

JDT did not learn from the Japanese defender's goal, and allowed Amani Aguinaldo all the time in the world to deliver another sucker punch two minutes later.

Mora's team talk looked like it work at half-time, as Gabriel Guerra breathed life into the contest with a deft hit into the bottom corner two minutes after the restart.

The Argentine was proving a different proposition from the first half, and almost scored another in the 52nd minute.

His downward header was, however, brilliantly smothered by Patrick Deyto.

Guerra did eventually pull another goal back, stealing in front of his marker to sweep home Azrif Nasrulhaq's delicious cutback.

The versatile right footer could have orchestrated another possible cross minutes later, but his heavy touch wasted the opportunity.

Brian Ferreira would have the final chance of the night in added time, but his effort from 25 yards was kept out by Deyto.

JDT: Izham Tarmizi (GK), Fazly Mazlan, Aidil Zafuan, Marcos Antonio, Azrif Nasrulhaq, Amirulhadi Zainal, Gabriel Guerra, Nazmi Faiz, Gonzalo Cabrera, Ahmad Hazwan Bakri, Azamuddin Akil

Global FC: Patrick Deyto (C), Matthew Hartmann, Paul Mulders, Dennis Villanueva, Amani Aguinaldo, Hikaru Minegeshi, Germaine Agustien, Darryl Roberts, Shu Sasaki, Wesley Santos, Jerry Barbaso

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