Champions JDT throw down gauntlet to all rivals

JOHOR BARU: Stop us if you can!

This is the challenge issued by Super League champions Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) manager Mario Gomez after watching his team extend their impressive unbeaten run in all competitions to 12 matches.

The Argentine coach, who led the Southern Tigers to lift the AFC Cup last year, expects the going to get tougher in the coming matches after their come from behind 2-1 win over Perak at the Larkin Stadium on Tuesday.

“JDT are the best team in the league and this is a good motivation for other teams to try and beat us,” said Gomez, who praised the young Perak side for putting up a good fight.

“Perak have a lot of young and exciting players and they made it difficult for my team. But my boys have been playing their socks off and the coming matches will not be easy.”

Against Perak, Argentine striker Juan Lucero scored a brace in the 48th and 52nd minutes after Brazilian winger Elias Fernandes had put the silver state ahead in the 17th minute.

Gomez has a tight playing schedule coming up, with three matches in nine days.

JDT will have their hands full playing on three fronts – Super League, FA Cup and the AFC Cup.

The table-toppers, with 16 points, face a tricky Super League match against Kelantan at the Sultan Mohd IV Stadium in Kota Baru tomorrow.

Then, they travel to Vientiane, Laos, for the AFC Cup Group H match against Lao Toyota on April 13. Three days later, they play Kedah in the FA Cup semi-finals, first-leg match at the Darulaman Stadium in Alor Setar.