ACL Elite: JDT Upset Vissel Kobe To Book The Round Of 16 Spot

Johor Darul Takzim (JDT) had made the major upset of the day, by beating much stronger side in the last match of AFC Champions League Elite. Vissel Kobe on the other hand, had already booked their spot in the knockout stage after leading the East Region Group before the last match. The loss to JDT however made them dropped to a second place, finished behind their fellow J-League Sanfrecce Hiroshima, whom JDT lost before this.

Jairo Da Silva and Marcos Guilherme both involved in the vital goal.

Match Statistics

Vissel Kobe enjoyed 59% of the ball possession compared to JDT 41%, despite using mostly their 2nd choice players. This showed that the Japanese giant took this opportunity to strengthen their squad depth.

JDT had 2 goals ruled for offside. But the home side never give up to find the winning goal, and they got what they were looking for on 73rd minutes.

How The Goal Happened

The buildup started from JDT's goalkeeper, Zubiaurre with a long clearance in his own box after seeing around 5 Vissel's players around the danger zone.

The clearance reached Jairo who got his first touch throuh his head, and brought down the ball. He was challenged by Boniface who was the last man available to stop him, he won the ground duel as well and left Boniface who fell on the ground. Vissel's highline was caught after Jairo broke free and continued his run inside the box.

Jairo found Guilherme, who ran wide from the left flank and arrived on time inside the box, on the left side of the goal, passed to the ball, and Guilherme calmly scored the goal.

This goal showed that JDT caught Vissel Kobe's highline, found the space, won both ariel and groud duel, wide runner and central forward arriving at the same time inside the box.

Vissel Kobe tried to overload the D area but it was too late.

JDT's Key Players

Jairo Da Silva - he came off the bench and replace Joao Figueiredo, and his assist to be the key in JDT's only goal of the match.

Marcos Guilherme - after his goal was ruled for offside, he never gave up, and continued to stretch Vissel's defenders. Until 73th minute, his effort paid off after converting a vital goal.