ISKANDAR PUTERI, Aug 21 (Bernama) -- Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) continued their dominance by retaining the Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Cup after defeating Kuching City FC 3-0 in the Charity Shield match at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium here tonight.
More impressively, Xisco Munoz’s squad created a new world record by extending their unbeaten league run to 109 consecutive matches since 2021, surpassing the previous record of 108 unbeaten matches held by Ivorian club ASEC Mimosas.
The victory in the opening match of the 2026-2027 Malaysia League (Liga-M) season also earned JDT three points, giving the Southern Tigers a perfect start to their Super League campaign.
Marcos Guilherme, Oscar Arribas and Shahab Zahedi were on target for JDT in tonight’s victory.
JDT began strongly and controlled the pace of the game, launching wave after wave of attacks on the Kuching City FC defence through several corners and dangerous attempts in front of goal, but Muhammad Haziq Nadzli’s heroics denied the threats.
The Southern Tigers’ sustained pressure finally paid off in the 11th minute when Marcos Guilherme converted Bergson da Silva’s pass to open the scoring and put JDT ahead.
After the restart, Kuching City FC, who had rarely created dangerous chances, tried to fight back and came close to equalising through a header by striker Gabriel Nistelrooy, but his attempt was parried by JDT goalkeeper Ahmad Syihan Hazmi.
JDT doubled their lead in the 55th minute when Oscar Arribas unleashed a powerful shot into the Kuching City FC goal, and punished the visitors’ lapse in concentration by adding the third goal in the 86th minute through Shahab Zahedi.
-- BERNAMA