* Thai champions Bangkok Glass thrash JDT 3-0 in 2nd Round Qualifier
* JDT to play in the lower tier AFC Cup
* Injury hit JDT no match for the superior Thai side
Malaysian Super League champions Johor Darul Takzim found Thailand champions Bangkok Glass FC too hot to handle and were soundly beaten 3-0 in a 2nd round AFC Champions League qualifier match at the Leo Stadium in Pathum Thani, Bangkok on Tuesday.
The injury hit Southern Tigers just could not match the Thai side on a night when JDT custodian Farizal Marlias saved a penalty from their Macedonian midfielder Darko Tasevski in the 64th minute after Bangkok Glass had gone 2-0 up.
The defeat means the Johor outfit, who were hoping to become the first Malaysian team to play in the AFC Champions League proper, will try their luck in the lower tier AFC Cup and will play in Group F. Other teams in the group are India’s Bengal FC, Hong Kong’s Kitchee and Singapore’s Balestier Khalsa.
In the AFC Champions League first round qualifier, JDT defeated India champions Bengaluru FC 2-1 at the Larkin Stadium in Johor Baru last week. Although he has a strong 25-man squad at his disposal, coach Bojan Hodak was unable to do much with injuries to Luciano Figueroa, Safee Sali, Amnri Yahya and Aidil Zafuan Abdul Radzak.
JDT were 1-0 down on 28 minutes when midfielder Narong Jansawek found the net and Bangkok Glass, fielding their strongest side for the match, grew in confidence. Still, JDT were able to hold on and denied the Thai side from adding to their tally. Bangkok Glass led 1-0 at half time.
But after the break Bangkok Glass upped their ante and it was their Namibian striker Lazarus Kaimbi who took over the show and gave the 5300 fans plenty to cheer with a brace. His first came on 52 minutes when he beat Farizal from a pass by Tasevski. Ten minutes later he added a second – this time putting the finishing touches to a through ball from Brazilian midfielder Leandro Oliveira.
Bangkok Glass will now travel to Beijing to face 13-time China champions Beijing Guoan on Feb 17. The winners of this tie will get the ticket to play in the AFC Champions League.
PICTURE by asiana.my
