JDT win 2-0 at Pohang Steelers as Marcos Guilherme double earns first ACL Elite victory of the season

Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) collected their first win of the 2026/27 AFC Champions League Elite on Tuesday, 13 October, beating Pohang Steelers 2-0 at the Steelyard in South Korea. Forward Marcos Guilherme scored both goals in the second half after Pohang captain Jeon Min-gwang was sent off just before the interval, leaving the Malaysian champions with four points from their opening two East region matches.

How the match unfolded

JDT, coached by Xisco Munoz, went close in the opening quarter of an hour when Shahab Zahedi struck the crossbar with a powerful effort. That was the visitors' best chance of a first half in which neither side found a breakthrough.

The game turned in the 43rd minute. Jeon, Pohang's skipper and centre-back, was shown a red card for a foul on a JDT player, and the Korean side had to play the whole second half with ten men. Arif Aiman Hanapi's free-kick from the incident came to nothing, but JDT's numerical advantage soon told.

Guilherme strikes twice

Four minutes after the restart, Zahedi turned provider. He found Guilherme, who controlled the ball and finished with his left foot to make it 1-0 in the 49th minute.

Pohang were unable to build sustained pressure with a man fewer, and JDT made sure of the points late on. In the 89th minute, Bergson da Silva's shot was parried by the Pohang goalkeeper and Guilherme reacted quickest to the rebound to seal a 2-0 victory.

Why the result matters for JDT

The win follows a 1-1 draw with Thai champions Buriram United in the Southern Tigers' opening match at Sultan Ibrahim Stadium in Iskandar Puteri on 15 September. A draw and a win give JDT four points from their first two games in the East region league stage, with a win and a draw against two of the region's established clubs.

Malaysian media also highlighted the venue. According to The Star, it was JDT's first win away at Pohang, a three-time Asian champion club, after defeats on their previous visits. Winning in Korea has rarely been straightforward for Malaysian sides, which made a clean sheet against the Steelers all the more welcome.

Pohang, by contrast, have now lost both of their opening matches and sit without a point.

Form and what comes next

JDT arrived in Korea unbeaten in all competitions this season, and reports put their record at 11 wins from 12 matches before kick-off. Zahedi, who supplied the opener, has 11 goals in all competitions, according to The Star.

The result also lifts the mood among Malaysian fans after a difficult evening for Southeast Asian clubs in the same round. Buriram United, Ratchaburi and Cong An Ha Noi all lost on Tuesday, which left JDT as the region's only winner in the East section on matchday two.

JDT's busy domestic schedule continues alongside their Asian campaign. With four points banked after two rounds, Munoz's side are well placed to push for a knockout spot from the East region, though plenty of league-stage football remains.

Key takeaways

• JDT beat Pohang Steelers 2-0 away on Tuesday, 13 October 2026, in the ACL Elite East.
• Marcos Guilherme scored in the 49th and 89th minutes; Shahab Zahedi assisted the first goal.
• Pohang captain Jeon Min-gwang was sent off in the 43rd minute.
• JDT now have four points from two games after a 1-1 opening draw with Buriram United.
• Pohang have lost both of their first two matches.

FAQ

Who scored for JDT against Pohang Steelers? Marcos Guilherme scored both goals, in the 49th minute and the 89th minute, in the 2-0 win at the Steelyard.

Why did Pohang play with 10 men? Captain Jeon Min-gwang was sent off in the 43rd minute for a foul on a JDT player, just before half-time.

How many points do JDT have in the ACL Elite? JDT have four points from two matches: a 1-1 home draw with Buriram United in September and the 2-0 away win over Pohang.

Sources: AFC, Bernama, The Star, Persian Football