Malaysia's JDT stay unbeaten for world record 109th league match

ISKANDAR PUTERI, Malaysia, Aug 21 : Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) set a world record of 109 consecutive league matches unbeaten after opening the Malaysian Super League season with a 3-0 victory over Kuching City in the Charity Shield on Friday.

Marcos Guilherme scored in the 11th minute, while Oscar Arribas and Shahab Zahedi each found the net in the second half as JDT picked a comfortable win at Sultan Ibrahim Stadium.

The win saw JDT surpass the 108-match streak that Ivory Coast's ASEC Mimosas compiled between 1989 and 1994, which the Malaysian club had matched with a 14-1 victory over Kelantan The Real Warriors in their final match of last season in May.

The Southern Tigers have not lost a league match since April 2021 and have gone unbeaten through the last four Malaysian Super League campaigns.

"It's a proud moment of my career being part of this amazing five-year run that has seen us go 109 matches unbeaten in the league, thus setting a new world record," JDT's Spanish coach Xisco Munoz said.

"Our aim now is to keep this streak going and make the numbers even greater.

Club CEO and former Liverpool Champions League winner Luis Garcia added: "I've played for and seen many dominant teams during my career in Europe, so I know how tough staying unbeaten can be no matter how strong you are.

"Everyone just wants to beat you and treats every match against you like a final, same as how it is for JDT."

JDT, chasing a 13th straight league title, have come close to completing a perfect season in recent years, dropping points in only one league game in each of the last three campaigns.

The club drew 3-3 with Premier League side Chelsea in a pre-season friendly earlier this month. 

Having taken the first step in their latest title defence,