Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 2-0 Johor Darul Ta’zim: two first-half goals end an unbeaten league-stage start

Johor Darul Ta’zim lost for the first time in the league stage of the AFC Champions League on 3 November, beaten 2-0 by Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors at Jeonju World Cup Stadium.

Both goals came before half-time. Bruno Mota opened the scoring in the 22nd minute, set up by Kim Jin-Gyu, and Italo Vargas converted a penalty in first-half stoppage time, at 45+3’. The AFC’s own match report describes the result as the second win of the hosts’ campaign.

The defeat leaves Johor Darul Ta’zim with two wins, one draw and one loss from four league-stage matches. They drew 1-1 at home with Buriram United on 15 September, won 2-0 away to Pohang Steelers on 13 October and beat Port FC 3-0 in Iskandar Puteri on 27 October. Every goal in those two wins came after the break; in Jeonju, both goals of the night came before it.

At home, the Malaysian side are top of the Malaysia Super League with 18 points from six matches, having scored 28 goals and conceded none.

Johor Darul Ta’zim host DPMM FC at Sultan Ibrahim Stadium, Iskandar Puteri, on 8 November in the second leg of their Malaysia FA Cup semi-final, kicking off at 8.15pm with a 2-0 lead from the first leg in Bandar Seri Begawan. Their fifth league-stage match is away to Ratchaburi at Dragon Solar Park on 24 November, also kicking off at 8.15pm.