Johor Darul Ta’zim’s inconsistent form in the Malaysia Super League continued on Friday evening as they were beaten 2-1 by Perak at the Perak Stadium.
JDT were initially on course for a second straight win – something they have been unable to achieve thus far in the league so far this season – when they broke the deadlock six minutes before the half-hour mark.
It was Junior Eldstal who provided them with the breakthrough as he reacted instinctively inside the six-yard box to divert Aidil Zafuan’s blistering drive past Zamir Selamat.
But in the 48th minute, the hosts pulled level after Nurridzuan Abu Hassan curled a right-wing freekick towards the near post, where opposition striker Alhaji Kamara inexplicably tried to clear it with a diving header and could only help the ball into the bottom corner.
Just two minutes later, Perak took the lead after Fikri Sudin’s cross to the back post was nodded by Horace James into the path of Charles Souza Chad, who slid in to stab the ball home from a couple of yards out.
Despite their best efforts, the visitors were just unable to find an equaliser in the remainder of the game and were ultimately dealt their second defeat of the campaign.
The result means the defending champions have only won four of their opening nine matches of the campaign and currently find themselves fourth on the table, while Perak have surpassed all expectations so far in 2015 and are just one point behind in fifth.
Perak: Zamir Selamat, Tuah Iskandar, Raffi Nagoorgani, Thiago Junio, Idris Ahmad, Nasir Basharuddin (Nor Hakim Isa 81’), Hisyamudin Sha’ari, Fikri Sudin (Ridzuan Azly 71’), Horace James, Nurridzuan Abu Hassan, Charles Souza Chad (Syazwan Roslan 90’).
Johor Darul Ta’zim: Izham Tarmizi, S. Kunanlan (S. Chanturu 73’), Aidil Zafuan, Marcos Antonio (Fadhli Shas 18’), Asraruddin Putra Omar, Junior Eldstal, Hariss Harun, Safiq Rahim, Amri Yahyah (Safee Sali 83’), Patito Rodriguez, Alhaji Kamara.