FELDA SEE RED AGAINST JDT

Three playes sent off in loss to defending champs

JOHOR Darul Ta’zim (JDT) produced a remarkable performance by scoring two stoppage-time goals to overcome eight-man Felda United in an incident-filled Super League match in Larkin on Friday.

The defending champions now lead with 20 points from eight matches, followed by second-place Pahang (17 points), who will entertain PJ City FC in Kuantan today.

The match in Larkin only came to life when Felda’s Zahil Azri Zabri (60th) and

Thiago Aguino (82nd) were handed their marching orders for various reasons.

The numerical advantage saw JDT taking the lead through Gonzalo Cabrera in the 88th minute. It became worse for Felda when their captain Hadin Azman was sent off for a second yellow card.

But Felda silenced the JDT fans when they equalised in the first minute of stoppage time through Brazilian Jocinei Schad.

Just when Felda United thought they had earned a point, JDT netted two quick goals.

Akhyar Rashid scored JDT’s second with a grounder in the third minute of stoppage time before Diogo Santo added their third seven minutes later.

Felda coach Nidzam Jamil said: “I do not want to talk about referee Fitri Maskon’s decisions in the match.

“We came here with a plan to be defensive. No team would play an open game against JDT in Larkin.“

“Although we were down with only eight players, we did not give up and still managed an equaliser,” said Nidzam after the match.

JDT manager Luciano Figueroa was critical when asked about Felda’s defensive play.

“It is always difficult to play a team of 11 defenders. We had many opportunities and did everything throughout the game.

“The Felda goalkeeper (Norazlan Razali) did very well to deny us goals especially in the first half,” said Figueroa.

JDT left for China yesterday for their AFC Champions League Group E match against Shandong Luneng on Tuesday.