KUALA LUMPUR: Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) are not used to this — coming out second best in a football tournament. But the prestigious Asian Champions League (ACL) is a different jungle altogether, and for the Southern Tigers who are unrivalled in domestic competitions, they are left licking their wounds.
Yesterday, JDT suffered a 3-1 defeat against Ulsan Hyundai — their biggest loss of the season — in a Group I match at the Munsu Stadium in South Korea.
So superior were Ulsan that they could still overwhelm JDT despite being reduced to 10-man in the 36th minute after defender, Kim Tae Hwan, was sent off for a second booking for a foul on Corbin Ong.
Ulsan stormed to a 3-0 lead with goals from Jung Seung Hyun (fifth minute) and Swede winger Gustav Ludwigson (12th and 18th). JDT replied through Bergson Da Silva in the 53rd.
It was JDT's second loss in the ACL this season. They lost their opening match 1-0 to Japan's Kawasaki Frontale before beating Thailand's BG Pathum 4-2.
JDT are now third in Group I with three points from three matches, while Ulsan are second with six points. Kawasaki are top with nine points and BG Pathum are bottom without a point.
JDT's Argentine coach Esteban Solari said his men didn't start the match well and were punished by Ulsan's set-piece goals which affected their concentration.
"I believe we could create chances, and the opponents were slowing down the game which proved that we were doing something right on the pitch."
Solari doesn't think it is the end of the ACL road for his team. He feels that the Southern Tigers can still claw their way back into the competition.
"Although we are sad with the result, we can't wait for the next match because we know we can do better.
"What I can say is that all the matches in the ACL are hard. We will play at home after this. It won't be easy but we are ready.
"If we can play dominantly like in the second half and get the goals, our chances are still open," added Solari.