ISKANDAR PUTERI: Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) coach Hector Bidoglio commended his players for their resilience in a hard-fought 0-0 draw against Thai giants Buriram United in an ill-tempered Asian Champions League Elite (ACLE) clash at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium on Tuesday.
Bidoglio praised his team's ability to manage the game under challenging circumstances, particularly after playing with 10 men from the 10th minute.
"JDT players showed high team spirit both in attack and defence. Although Buriram put us under constant pressure, we managed to control the game well. Our mission in the remaining matches is to avoid defeat," said Bidoglio.
JDT defender Eddy Israfilov was happy with the team's performance despite playing with 10 men for much of the match after Murilo Santos was sent off in the 10th minute for fouling Dion Cools outside the penalty box.
"It is difficult to play with 10 players, especially against a team like Buriram. But for the upcoming matches, we will give our best to strengthen our position in the ACLE," said Israfilov.
The situation worsened for JDT in stoppage time when South Korean defender Park Jun Heong received a red card for a tackle, leaving the team with just nine players on the pitch.
Buriram captain Theerathon Bunmathan was also sent off in the first half after a VAR review revealed he had pinched Arif Aiman Hanapi below the waist in the 45th minute.
Saudi referee Khalid Saleh Al-Turais had a busy night, issuing five yellow cards in addition to the three red cards, as tempers flared throughout the match.
Buriram coach Osmar Loss lauded his team's effort, describing the draw as a positive outcome.
"Our players gave their best and earning a point against JDT is a success. We'll aim to collect three points in the upcoming match," said Loss.
JDT's record in the ACLE this season stands at two wins, two losses, and two draws. Their remaining matches are against Australia's Central Coast Mariners on Feb 11 and South Korea's Pohang Steelers on Feb 18. – BERNAMA