Johor Bahru: Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) maintained their slender lead over fellow AFC Cup quarter-finalists Pahang at the top of the Malaysia Super League (MSL) standings on Wednesday thanks to a Luciano Figueroa goal in a slender 1-0 win over LionsXII.
With now only three games of the regular season to go, the Argentine striker notched his tenth goal of the campaign to keep his side one point ahead of Pahang who recorded a 5-3 win over Kelantan.
After seeing JDT squander several chances to break the deadlock in an entertaining first half at the Larkin Stadium, Figueroa struck on 55 minutes when, following a fine dummy from substitute Safi Sali, he beat his marker before firing home.
JDT have now gone 39 games unbeaten at home, a fine run of form that will give Mario Gomez’s side an ideal confidence boost ahead of the first leg of their AFC Cup quarter-final clash with South China on August 25.
Meanwhile, Pahang kept up the pressure on JDT with their win over Kelantan.
Pahang went ahead on the seventh minute of what would prove to be a frantic first period when R. Surendran converted the rebound after Matias Conti’s shot had hit a post.
Surdendran then crossed for Dickson Nwakaeme to head home, before Farhan Muhammad pulled one back for the visitors with only 13 minutes played in Kuantan.
Conti duly extended Pahang’s lead with a fine header on 44 minutes, an advantage that was stretched even further ten minutes into the second period courtesy of Pakistan international Zesh Rehman’s headed effort.
Farhan scored again for Kelantan in the 71st minute and completed his hat-trick late in the game to give Kelantan a glimmer of hope despite having Khairul Izuan sent off.
However, Azamuddin Akil’s last gasp goal ensured all three points for Pahang who are set to face Tajkistan’s FC Istiklol in the AFC Cup’s last eight.
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