Diogo goal earns JDT draw against Gyeongnam

JOHOR BAHRU: Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) held Gyeongnam FC to a 1-1 draw in the AFC Champions League at the Larkin Stadium in Johor Bahru yesterday.

Gyeongnam’s Kwak Tae-Hwi drew first blood in the 52nd minute. JDT’s Diogo Luís Santo then levelled the score from the penalty spot in the 68th minute.

Meanwhile, former Italy striker Graziano Pelle struck twice to earn Marouane Fellaini’s Shandong Luneng a 2-2 draw with holders Kashima Antlers in the AFC Champions League yesterday.

J-League side Kashima had looked set to run away with it, forward Sho Ito twice finishing slick team moves in the 10th and 14th minutes to stun Shandong.

But the imposing Pelle singlehandedly dragged Shandong back into the match. He buried the penalty on 20 minutes after Kento Misao handled in the box and then arrowed the ball into the top corner four minutes before the break on the half-volley.

Leo Silva should have sealed victory for the Japanese side with two minutes left, but he mis-hit his first-time effort from close range with only goalkeeper Wang Dalei to beat.

The entertaining stalemate leaves Kashima top of Group E with four points from two games. TUESDAY’S RESULTS: JDT 1 Gyeongnam 1, Shandong 2 Kashima 2, Hiroshima 2 Melbourne 1, Daegu 3 Guangzhou 1, Nejmeh 0 Al-Jaish 1, Nagaworld 2 Yangon 1, Tampines 1 Ha Noi 1, Shan United 1 Persija Jakarta 3, Becamex 1 Ceres-Negros 3