KUALA LUMPUR: Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) returned to winning ways in the Asian Champions League Elite (ACLE) with a 3-0 victory over South Korea's Ulsan Hyundai today.
Former Harimau Malaya coach Kim Pan Gon had hoped his inside knowledge of Malaysian football would give Ulsan an advantage at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium in Iskandar Puteri.
However, his injury-hit side, who had recently won the K-League, struggled to contain the Southern Tigers.
JDT winger Arif Aiman Hanapi opened the scoring, curling a shot past Ulsan goalkeeper Joo Hyeon Woo in the eighth minute.
Stunned by the goal, Ulsan pressed forward in search of an equaliser, but they failed to break through JDT's defence.
Their comeback hopes took a hit when Brazilian midfielder Matheus Sales left the field injured, replaced by former Bolton Wanderers winger Lee Chung Yong in the 22nd minute.
Arif Aiman's darting runs and link-up play with Jorge Obregon continued to torment Ulsan defender Kim Young Gwon, prompting Pan Gon to bring on 35-year-old centre-back Hwang Seok Ho to shore up the back line.
Ulsan managed to escape the first half down by only one goal.
JDT remained dominant after the break but squandered several chances before Oscar Arribas doubled the lead in the 67th minute, with his left-footed shot from outside the box taking a deflection.
Bergson da Silva sealed the win in the 88th minute, netting JDT's third.
JDT, who have two wins and a draw from four matches, will next face China's Shandong Taishan at the Jinan Olympic Sports Centre Stadium on Nov 26.