GROUP H: LAO TOYOTA FC 1-4 JOHOR DARUL TA’ZIM

Vientiane: Defending champions Johor Darul Ta’zim became the first side to advance to the last 16 of the 2016 AFC Cup after handing Lao Toyota FC a first-ever home defeat in the continental competition with a 4-1 victory in Group H on Wednesday.

Lao Toyota opened the scoring three minutes before the interval at Vientiane’s National Stadium through Phatthana Syvilay’s free-kick before Safee Sali equalised from the penalty spot early in the second half.

As one-way traffic ensued, Fadhli Shas, Amri Yahyah and substitute Pereyra Diaz all got on the scoresheet as the Malaysian Super League champions maintained their perfect record at the top of the group to advance to the next round with two games to spare.

“In the first half, although we had the ball, our movement wasn’t great, whereas that picked up after the interval,” said Johor coach Mario Gomez

“The equaliser was important for us and helped us to then go on and win another difficult game.

“We now have 12 points in the group and we want to win every game remaining in this competition.”

Johor had the first chance of note on 13 minutes when Azinee Taib found Sali, who turned into space before seeing his half-volley from the edge of the area tipped over by goalkeeper Vathana Keodouangdeth.

The hosts registered an effort of their own five minutes later but Moukda Souksavath’s speculative strike from distance flew wide of the left post.

And Lao Toyota then took a deserved lead in the 42nd minute when Syvilay curled a delightful free-kick to the left of keeper Izham Tarmizi for his second of the campaign after Jasazrin Jamaluddin had fouled Sitthideth Khanthavong 20 yards from goal.

But the holders were awarded a penalty almost immediately after the restart when Saynakkhonevieng Phommapanya upended Yahyah as he broke into the penalty area from the left, and Sali drilled home from the spot.

Sali then could have doubled his and his team’s tally when he raced through on goal just before the hour-mark but he shot over from the edge of the area after the ball bobbled up off the turf at the vital moment.

Johor then did score a second when Shas drilled into the net at the second time of asking from seven yards on 65 minutes after Keodouangdeth had blocked Yahyah’s initial effort.

The visitors then all but wrapped up proceedings in the 77th minute when Yahyah cut inside from the left and fired an unstoppable shot from outside the box into the back of the net.

And Argentine Diaz then got in on the act five minutes later when he burst into the area before directing an angled low effort into the bottom left corner for his second of the competition.

“It was a brutal lesson for our team in the second half time after a strong performance in the first half. We made individual mistake and at this level those mistakes will get punished,” said Lao Toyota coach Valakone Phomphakdy.

“My young team is one that is still a work in progress and we gain a lot of experience from matches like these against a top side like Johor.

“Nevertheless we still have two matches to play and we will see how far we can go.”