JDT trade blows with Chelsea in six-goal thriller

The Southern Tigers went toe-to-toe with the Premier League giants in a pulsating 3-3 draw.

ISKANDAR PUTERI: Johor Darul Ta'zim FC held Premier League giants Chelsea to a pulsating 3-3 draw at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium tonight, trading goals, penalties and heavy challenges in a match that rarely gave either side room to breathe.

Both teams deployed a 3-4-3 formation, with Chelsea starting brightly. Liam Delap forced Syihan Hazmi into an early save before Estêvão Willian curled an effort wide of the far corner, with the Brazilian teenager providing much of Chelsea's attacking threat.

But JDT struck first with a ruthless counter-attack. Marcos Guilherme broke forward before supplying captain Arif Aiman, who finished to put the Malaysian champions ahead around the quarter-hour mark.

The goal changed the complexion of the game as JDT pressed Chelsea with greater intent and aggression. Arif and Guilherme remained dangerous, while Dario Essugo provided Chelsea with calm and control in midfield.

Tempers also began to rise, with Chelsea's Tosin Adarabioyo and JDT's Kevin Medina involved in a scuffle in the 21st minute before Chelsea suffered an injury blow when Aaron Anselmino was forced off, to be replaced by Reggie Watson.

JDT continued to threaten, with Óscar Arribas firing into the side netting, but Chelsea finally found a way back when Medina brought down Delap inside the box late in the first half.

Delap took the penalty himself, sending Syihan the wrong way to make it 1-1 before coming close to completing the turnaround when he fired wide from Nicolas Jackson's pass just before half-time.

The physical battle continued after the restart. JDT's Shahad Zahedi was presented with an early one-on-one opportunity but was denied, while Estêvão was later booked following a tussle with Eddy Israfilov.

JDT showed no signs of easing their press, continuing to put Chelsea under pressure in possession, but another Medina challenge inside the box handed the visitors a second penalty around the hour mark.

Delap again stepped forward and converted to give Chelsea a 2-1 lead, completing his brace from the spot.

JDT's response was almost immediate. Arribas struck from a free kick that took a deflection off the wall and found the net in the 65th minute, pulling the Southern Tigers level at 2-2.

With tackles flying in and neither side backing down, JDT introduced prolific striker Bergson in place of Marcos Guilherme in the 78th minute.

The move paid off eight minutes later when Bergson found the net to put JDT 3-2 ahead and send the home crowd into celebration.

But there was one final twist. Antonio Glauder turned the ball into his own net in the 89th minute, rescuing Chelsea and completing a dramatic 3-3 draw.

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Orijinal haber: https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2026/08/09/jdt-trade-blows-with-chelsea-in-six-goal-thriller