Southern Tigers Fail To Roar Against Kedah In Season Opener

         Southern Tigers Fail To Roar Against Kedah In Season Opener - All is not well with Super League champions Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT).

The Southern Tigers who parted ways with head coach Mario Gomez – barely two days before the start of the new season, failed to get off their season on a victorious note after Kedah clinched the 2017 Charity Shield edging the home side 5-4 on penalties after the match ended 1-1 at the Larkin Stadium last night.

It was not the ideal start for new JDT coach Benjamin Mora, who had wanted to get off to a winning start after JDT skipper Safiq Rahim’s goal from the spot-kick in the 40th minute was cancelled by Baddrol Bakhtiar’s low drive in the 63rd minute.

The familiar JDT spark was missing with new Argentine signings – Jeronimo Barrales, Gonzalo Cabrera and Brian Ferreira – making their debut.

A lot more will be expected from the trio who replaced last season’s dynamic duo from Argentina of Jorge Diaz and Juan Lucero, who scored 47 goals between them.

The three-time champions received a massive blow deep into stoppage time of the half when defender S. Kunalan was sent off for a second bookable offence.

The nippy Kunalan saw red after he had fouled Ahmad Fakri Saarani just outside the box.

In the second half, the Red Eagles made full use of their numerical advantage by having the lion’s share of possession.

Things then got worse for JDT when defender Mohd Aidil Zafuan Abdul Radzak had to be replaced by Mohd Fadhli Shas due to injury in the 51st minute.

Kedah skipper Baddrol then scored a stunner when his low drive from 25m outside the penalty caught JDT goalkeeper Mohd Farizal Marlias by surprised and made it 1-1 in the 63rd minute.

The match ended in a draw where both teams will share points in the league.

In the shootout, Ferreira’s penalty was saved by Kedah goalkeeper Abdul Hadi Abdul Hamid while Liridon Krasniqi turned hero for the visitors scoring the winning spot-kick.