JDT get over AFC defeat to crush Negri in Malaysia Cup
PETALING JAYA: Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) rose from their recent defeat to reach the Malaysia Cup semi-finals in style.
The Southern Tigers came out in full force to snatch a 4-1 win over Negri Sembilan in the quarter-final second leg match at Sultan Ibrahim Stadium in Iskandar Puteri on Saturday.
They had beaten Negri 3-0 in the first leg and will enter the semis on a 7-1 aggregate and coach Esteban Solari said the win was needed to give his team the confidence with more important matches coming their way.
Last week, they went down fighting 0-1 to Kawasaki Frontale in the AFC Champions League opening Group I match.
JDT were in an uncompromising mood against Negri that the contest was over in the first 30 minutes where a brace from Bergson da Silva (sixth and 11th minutes) and a Juan Muniz goal in the 29th minute had put them in total command.
Substitute Fernando Forestieri’s strike in injury time (91st minute) was enough to restore the faith of the home fans.
JDT will play the winner of the match between Perak and Sabah in the first (Oct 20) and second (Nov 3) legs of the semi-finals.
“It was important to win the game as we lost the AFC Champions League in front of our fans. Today (Saturday) we had to show that we can play the game we want to play,” said Solari.
“It was important to regain our confidence with more important matches in front of us.”
Solari made several substitutions in the second half where he felt the move was crucial to allow the players who were coming back from injuries to get playing time.
Strikers Forestieri and Diogo Santo as well as midfielders Nazmi Faiz Mansor, Arif Aiman Hanapi and Daryl Sham George were brought in as soon as the Malaysian Cup semi-final spot was already sealed.
“We had a good rhythm, created a lot chances and scored three quick goals but we lost a bit of the tempo in the second as we wanted to give several players coming back from injuries some playing time,” said Solari.
JDT will be playing Police at home on Wednesday (Sept 27) were a win will confirm their 10th consecutive title.
This will be followed by the AFC Champions League second group match against BG Pathum United in Pathum Thani on Oct 3.
Meanwhile, Negri coach K. Devan conceded that it wasn’t easy to face a formidable side like JDT with a 0-3 deficit from the first leg.
“It is not easy to come here with a three-goal deficit and we made mistakes and let in three early goals. If we had defended like we did in the second half, the goal margin could have been reduced,” said Devan.
Negri will be aiming to rebound from the defeat when they meet Perak at the Tuanku Abdul Rahman Stadium in Paroi on Oct 1.
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