Quick Read
- Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) lost 2-1 to Sanfrecce Hiroshima in the AFC Champions League Elite on Tuesday.
- JDT’s Jonathan Silva received a red card and conceded a penalty in the 15th minute of the match.
- Akito Suzuki scored both goals for Sanfrecce Hiroshima, including the winning goal in the 47th minute.
- JDT is now winless in their last three continental matches and risks falling out of the top eight qualification zone.
- Shanghai Shenhua trails Machida Zelvia 1-0 at halftime and faces elimination from the tournament if they lose.
HIROSHIMA (Azat TV) – Johor Darul Ta’zim’s (JDT) hopes of securing a spot in the AFC Champions League Elite knockout stages have significantly diminished following a critical 2-1 away defeat to J1 League powerhouses Sanfrecce Hiroshima on Tuesday, February 10, 2026. The Malaysian side’s continental ambitions are now hanging by a thread as the league stage approaches its conclusion, with their position in the East region standings becoming increasingly precarious. Concurrently, in another crucial fixture, Shanghai Shenhua is battling for their tournament life, currently trailing Machida Zelvia 1-0 at halftime, a result that would see them crash out of contention.
JDT’s AFC Champions League Elite Campaign Takes a Hit
The match in Hiroshima saw JDT initially take an unexpected lead in the third minute through Marcos Guilherme, capitalizing on a defensive error from Sanfrecce Hiroshima’s Taichi Yamasaki. However, the game dramatically shifted in the 15th minute when JDT defender Jonathan Silva received a red card for deliberately handling the ball on the goal line to prevent a certain equalizer. The ensuing penalty was converted by Akito Suzuki, bringing Sanfrecce level. The numerical disadvantage proved decisive, as Suzuki struck again shortly after the restart, securing a 2-1 victory for the hosts with a fine glancing header in the 47th minute from Naoki Maeda’s freekick, as reported by ESPN.
This defeat marks JDT’s third consecutive continental match without a win, a stark contrast to their position as high as second in the East region standings in November. The Southern Tigers, despite their impressive track record of reaching the knockout rounds twice in the past three campaigns, now sit precariously just inside the top eight. They face the risk of falling out of the qualification zone entirely by the end of this penultimate round, depending on the results of other matches, including Buriram United, Ulsan HD, and Gangwon FC’s respective games.
Crucial Fixtures and the Road Ahead for JDT
The challenges for JDT are set to intensify as they prepare to face table-topping Vissel Kobe in their final league stage match next week. Vissel Kobe has already secured their passage to the next stage, having confirmed their progress with a 2-0 victory over FC Seoul. While there is speculation that Vissel Kobe might rest some key players, potentially offering JDT a slight advantage, the Japanese club will still be keen to maintain their top spot to secure a more favorable draw in the round of 16 against lower-ranked opponents. JDT will need to deliver a significant performance to secure their place in the knockout rounds for a third time in four seasons.
Shanghai Shenhua Fights for AFC Champions League Survival
In a parallel development in Group A of the AFC Champions League Elite, Shanghai Shenhua is currently locked in a tense battle against Machida Zelvia. As of halftime, Shanghai Shenhua trails 1-0, with Yuki Soma converting a third-minute penalty for Machida Zelvia, according to Outlookindia. For Shanghai Shenhua, a loss in this match would lead to their immediate elimination from the knockout reckoning, underscoring the high stakes involved in these late-stage group fixtures. Substitutions were made in the second half, with Gao Tianyi replacing Li Ke for Shanghai Shenhua in the 66th minute, and Tete Yengi coming on for Shota Fujio for Machida Zelvia in the 73rd minute, as the teams pushed for a decisive outcome.
The confluence of these results underscores the intense competition and fine margins defining the AFC Champions League Elite. As the league stage draws to a close, every point and every decision carries immense weight, shaping the destiny of clubs vying for continental supremacy.