# Second stringers good enough for JDT to beat Ayeyawady United
# Safee Sali nets a winner in 2-1 win over Ayeyawady
By Rizal Abdullah
With the focus set on Saturday’s FA Cup return-leg semifinal match against Kedah at the Larkin Stadium in Johor Bahru the Southern Tigers kept their winning ways in Group H in the AFC Cup.
The defending AFC Cup champions came from behind to snatch a 2-1 win over Ayeyawady United in Yangon with former national striker Safee Sali netting the winner on 87 minutes tucking home the rebound after Fadhli Shas’ earlier attempt came off the woodwork.
JDT coach Mario Gomez left more than half of his first team players at home for the all-important FA Cup match against Kedah. Kedah won the first-leg in Alor Setar 2-1 – JDT’s first defeat in all competitions this season.
Ayeyawady grabbed the lead after 26 minutes – thanks to a mix up in the JDT backline and Fadhli Shas could only clear the ball into the path of Thiha Zaw who gleefully fired into the roof of the net as JDT keeper Izham Tarmizi stood rooted.
This sparked the fightback from the visitors and Amirulhadi Zainal made it all square four minutes later when he drilled home a low shot into the right corner of the Ayeyawady goal.
JDT are on top with maximum points after five matches and play Bengaluru FC in their final match which is away on May 11.
Meanwhile, Bengaluru are also through to the knockout stage with nine points after a 2-1 win over Lao Toyota in Bangalore on Wednesday.
Eugeneson Lyngdoh scored in added time in the first half before Kim Song Yong made it 2-0 for Bengaluru in the 60th minute. Lao Toyota reduced the deficit in the 68th minute through Kazuo Homma.
AFC CUP RESULTS (April 27)
GROUP H
Ayeyawady United (Mya) 1 JDT (Msia) 2
Bengaluru FC (Ind) 2 Toyota Lao (Laos) 1
