Safiq (right) in action against Felda United in the Super League at the Larkin Stadium.
PETALING JAYA: Skipper Safiq Rahim saved defending champions Johor Darul Ta’zim’s (JDT) the blushes in a slim 1-0 win over India’s Bengaluru in their AFC Cup Group H match.
The Southern Tigers did just enough to keep the momentum for their seventh consecutive win in all competitions, including their thumping 8-1 thrashing of Myanmar’s Ayeyawady United in their opening game at the Larkin Stadium on Feb 24.
Safiq, who starred with a hat-trick against the Myanmar side, found the breakthrough after a frustrating first-half.
In the 55th minute, JDT were awarded a free-kick after Juan Lucero was fouled just outside the box.
Safiq stepped up and curled the ball past a packed defence and the rooted Bengaluru goalkeeper Lalthuammawia Ralte.
JDT had a couple of clear scoring chances to pull ahead in the first-half but poor finishing by their Argentine strikers Lucero and Jorge Diaz denied them of a more comfortable win.
The hosts’ centreback John Johnson was outstanding in the heart of defence and often frustrated the JDT frontrunners with his tight marking.
Bengaluru’s Alwyn George had the best chance to draw level but he squandered a close range chance with only goalkeeper Mohd Izham Tarmizi to beat in the 84th minute.
