Just A Report: Shandong Luneng Vs. JDT
Credit: Johor Southern Tigers
It was a decent attempt but sadly for Johor Darul Takzim (JDT), they fell to another 2-1 defeat away from home, this time to China’s Shandong Luneng in their 3rd AFC Champions League clash despite a world-class strike from Safawi Rasid
They had so much trouble dealing with the likes of Marouane Fellaini, Graziano Pelle & Jin Jingdao, especially from set-pieces as they were outmuscled throughout the first 45 minutes. The home side exerted their physical presence on both sides of the pitch. Fellaini had the first real chance when he chested down a cross, only of Safawi of all people to put him off and made him sky his effort.
JDT for the life of them couldn’t make them think about their offensive presence while Shandong’s set-pieces make them worry. Unsurprisingly, it was from a set-piece that opened the scoring. You only need one guess who got the goal. The corner comes into the near post and despite the pressure from La’vere Corbin Ong, Fellaini was able to head the ball in for his maiden AFC Champions League goal.
It got worse for the Southern Tigers just minutes later. Under pressure from Pelle, Aidil Zafuan failed to connect an acrobatic clearance and that in turn caused him to foul the Italian striker moments after being on the floor, perhaps accidentally clipping him with his leg.
Pelle duly stepped up and his penalty just barely beat Farizal Marlias when the ball squirmed past his hands to double Shandong’s lead. And it was a lead well deserved by the home side as they head into the break while JDT was left wondering how to overcome the physical challenge.
Almost immediately after the restart, Shandong should’ve scored a third. Once again, Fellaini winning an aerial ball to head it into the path of Jingdao coming in from the right-wing. But he saw his shot crucially saved by Farizal, who saw the danger early. Moments later, Gil couldn’t get the touch he needed to slide in the ball that came off Zheng Zheng’s head.
It looked to be smooth sailing for Shandong. But on the hour mark, a certain young winger carved out a moment of magnificence out of nothing. Safawi from the right was able to shake off his marker as he ran towards the area outside the box. The forward then unleashed a breath-taking strike with his left foot by curling the ball into the far top corner that left the keeper no chance. A strike surely a worthy goal-of-the-week contender.
Since then, JDT enjoyed most of the attacks, confining Shandong into their own half. But they haven’t made their keeper, Wang Dalei sweat enough. It was a valiant attempt, but nothing too threatening sadly. It was only until deep into stoppage time they could’ve done a smash-and-grab under Shandong’s noses.
Winning a free-kick just outside the penalty area, Gonzalo Cabrera stepped up with Safawi already been subbed off. Cabrera was able to beat the wall of tall Shandong bodies and Dalei. But he didn’t beat the woodwork as he saw his free-kick hitting the bar that proved to be the final chance of the game.
The result now sees JDT’s task to qualify much more improbable as they prop up their group from the bottom with just one point.