KUALA LUMPUR: Super League champions Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) suffered their biggest defeat of the season in a 3-1 loss to 10-man Ulsan Hyundai in an Asian Champions League (ACL) Group I match at the Munsu Stadium in South Korea today.
Ulsan went on a blitz in the first half with goals from skipper Jung Seung Hyun (fifth minute) and a brace from Swede winger Gustav Ludwigson (12th and 18th) to leave the Southern Tigers bewildered.
In the 36th minute, Ulsan were reduced to 10 men after their defender, Kim Tae Hwan, was sent off after a second booking for a foul on Corbin Ong.
JDT hit back with Bergson Da Silva scoring from inside the box in the 53rd minute but the Korean League One champions quickly regrouped and shored up their defence.
This was the Southern Tigers' second defeat in the ACL this season. JDT lost their opening match, 1-0, to Japan's Kawasaki Frontale in Iskandar Puteri on Sept 19, but bounced back with a 4-2 away win over Thai club, BG Pathum on Oct 3.
Last season, JDT won 2-1 and drew 0-0 against Ulsan when both the ACL matches were played at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium.