JDT Wins 12th Consecutive Super League Title

KUALA LUMPUR, March 15 (Bernama) -- Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) have won their 12th consecutive Super League title, as they continued to assert their dominance over the domestic football scene by securing this season’s title with five matches remaining.

The Southern Tigers have yet to concede a single point this entire season, and their 3-0 win against DPMM FC at Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei tonight was their 19th in a winning streak that began at the start of this season.

In tonight’s match, JDT’s first goal in the 20th minute was ruled offside after a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) review, and the visitors had to wait till the 33rd minute to score through a free kick by Ager Aketxe that deflected of the goalpost into the net.

DPMM very nearly scored an equaliser twice in the second half, first in the 52nd minute through an attempt by midfielder Ibrahim Sulley that was slightly offtarget, and a goal by Muhammad Hakeme Yazid Said  three minutes later that was ruled offside.

JDT then took control of the game and scored through a close-range shot by Oscar Arribas in the 74th minute, and Marcos Guilherme put the game beyond DPMM’s reach by scoring JDT’s third goal, securing the team’s historic 12th consecutive championship.

Meanwhile, Selangor FC clawed their way back to second in the league by beating Kuala Lumpur (KL) City FC 3-2 in a riveting match at Kuala Lumpur Football Stadium in Cheras tonight.

Selangor FC captain Mohamad Faisal Abdul Halim put his team ahead early in the 11th minute, but the Red Giants had to wait till the second half for their second goal, courtesy of Diarra Mamadou in the 63rd minute, and Hugo Boumous scored in the 70th minute to put the visitors in a commanding 3-0 lead.

KL City managed a comeback, scoring through Madger Gomes in the 72nd minute and Muhammad Safawi Rasid in the 87th minute, but was unable to secure an equaliser before the end of the match.

Selangor is now second in the league with 42 points after 20 matches, while Kuching City FC is third with 40 points but with a game to spare.

Melaka FC can thank Che Rashid Che Halim for their 2-1 victory over Kelantan The Real Warriors (TRW) FC at Hang Jebat Stadium in Melaka tonight.

Che Rashid’s goal in the 66th minute secured his team’s win, breaking the 1-1 stalemate, with TRW scoring through Enzo Nicolas Jacques Celestine (12’) and Melaka FC’s Ahmed Ayman Shamsaldin Abdalazem  (44’).

-- BERNAMA