KUALA LUMPUR: There will be little, if any, time for Johor Darul Ta'zim to celebrate retaining the Malaysian Super League title as they turn their attention to Tuesday's AFC Cup quarter-finals.
Darul Ta'zim, despite suffering a 2-1 defeat to Felda United at the Selayang Stadium on Saturday, finished top of the Super League standings by two points from Pahang, who blew their own hopes of snatching the title after losing 3-1 to Terengganu.
In the end, the defeat to Felda mattered little except for the suspension which defender Junior Eldstal will have to serve during the Malaysia Cup in September after earning a straight red card just nine minutes into the match.
Neither Eldstal's dismissal nor the defeat dampened the enthusiasm of 15,000 fans packed into the stadium the celebration of Darul Ta'zim's second league title.
"It did not matter that we lost this match because the most important thing is that we are the champions," said Darul Ta'zim coach Mario Gomez after the match.
"But we play again on Tuesday and don't have much time left. For now we enjoy, Tuesday is another day."
Darul Ta'zim welcome Hong Kong club South China to the Larkin Stadium on Tuesday for the first leg of the AFC Cup quarter-finals.
Having won the Super League, Darul Ta'zim have a chance to add the AFC Cup and the Malaysia Cup to their collection, which would be an historic feat for a Malaysian club should they achieve it.
Pahang will also be involved in AFC Cup action, fresh from their disappointing outing in Kuala Terengganu which capped a run of just one win in five matches, costing them the league title.
Coach Zainal Abidin Hassan's team left immediately for Dushanbe, Tajikistan on Sunday to face Istiklol on Wednesday.
Also on Tuesday, the Super League's two relegated teams Armed Forces and Sime Darby face Negri Sembilan and Johor in Selayang and Paroi respectively in the playoffs to qualify for the Malaysia Cup.
The draw for the 16-team Malaysia Cup will be held on Friday.