JOHOR – Johor Darul Ta’zim FC began their 2026/27 ASEAN Club Championship Shopee Cup campaign with a commanding 6-0 victory over PKR Svay Rieng FC at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium on Thursday.
The Malaysian Super League champions were made to work for the opening goal, with Svay Rieng goalkeeper Vireak Dara producing a series of saves to keep the Cambodian Premier League champions level during the first half.
Once Arif Aiman broke the deadlock in the 39th minute, however, JDT took control of the contest. Marcos Guilherme, Kevin Medina, Shahab Zahedi and Muhammad Daniesh all found the net after the interval, with Daniesh scoring twice.
JDT created their first major opening in the seventh minute when Jairo connected with a cross from Óscar Arribas on the left. Dara managed to divert the effort onto the left post, but Arif was unable to make the most of the rebound and sent his attempt over the bar.
Guilherme was denied shortly afterwards after Nené played him into space outside the penalty area. The Brazilian’s right-footed effort was stopped by Dara, who continued to prove a significant obstacle for the home side.
Jairo came close again in the 14th minute when he met Shane Lowry’s cross, but his attempt narrowly missed the target. Svay Rieng offered an occasional threat of their own, with Kwame Peprah forcing Syihan Hazmi into a comfortable save from distance.
JDT continued to increase the pressure as the half progressed. Arribas was denied by another Dara save in the 26th minute, while the goalkeeper then raced off his line 10 minutes later to block a Guilherme attempt.
Dara produced perhaps his most impressive intervention in the 36th minute, tipping a powerful Stoichkov strike from around 30 yards over the crossbar.
The resistance finally ended three minutes later. Arif was allowed to carry the ball towards the Svay Rieng defence before finding enough room to fire a low shot into the bottom-left corner, giving JDT the lead shortly before half-time.
The opening goal changed the complexion of the match. JDT returned after the break with greater attacking momentum, although Arif narrowly missed the target five minutes into the second half.
Guilherme then doubled the advantage in the 51st minute. Jairo created the opening by releasing the Brazilian, who finished with a shot into the top-left corner beyond Dara.
Svay Rieng’s defence came under sustained pressure as JDT continued to attack. Their third goal arrived in the 61st minute when Medina was left unmarked at a corner and rose to head Arif’s delivery firmly into the net.
The Malaysian champions continued to exploit the space available in the final third. Zahedi, introduced as a substitute, needed only three minutes to make an impact, scoring in the 70th minute to extend the advantage to four goals.
Daniesh then added two more goals in the closing stages. The substitute struck in the 78th minute before completing his brace eight minutes later, bringing JDT’s tally to six.
The emphatic result gives JDT a strong start in Group B and underlines the attacking depth available to head coach Xisco Munoz as the Malaysian champions begin their latest Shopee Cup campaign.
The victory also provided a clear indication of JDT’s intent after last season’s semi-final appearance, while Marcos Guilherme was named the Shopee Star of the Match for his performance. – Sarawak Daily
