For all the strides they have taken since their debut back in 2019, reaching the quarterfinals of Asian football's premier club competition has continued to elude Johor Darul Ta'zim.
But after a 3-1 home win over Sanfrecce Hiroshima in the first leg of the round of 16 on Wednesday, history beckons for the Southern Tigers in the AFC Champions League Elite.
From the time the visitors were reduced to ten men in the 26th minute, JDT were always in the driving seat but it was only in the second half that they were able to really capitalise on the numerical advantage -- securing the victory through goals from Ager Aketxe, Bérgson da Silva and Marcos Guilherme, who remarkably had all come off the bench.
Nonetheless, an unfortunate late own-goal by Nené means the tie is far from over ahead of next week's return encounter in Hiroshima.
Still, there can be no denying that JDT are now the favourites to advance to the last eight for the first time in their history. Following the introduction of the centralised ACL Elite Finals since last season, that means a trip to Saudi Arabia at the end of April -- where the quarters, semifinals and final will all take place in a whirlwind span of nine days.
While JDT deserve plenty of credit for their display on Wednesday, it might have been a different outcome if Sanfrecce's Kim Ju-Sung had not gotten himself sent off with less than half an hour gone.
Having already picked up his first booking after seven minutes for a cynical pull of the collar on Jairo, Kim again showed no intent to play the ball when he clattered into Nené in the middle of the park 19 minutes later -- leaving referee Shaun Evans no alternative but to issue him his marching orders.
If the contest had been an even affair up till that point, it had now tilted towards JDT's favour.
They might even have broken the deadlock before the break with both Nacho Méndez and João Figueiredo denied by the woodwork, although Sanfrecce also threatened despite being a player down -- Hayato Araki sending a header smashing back of the post before a follow-up effort by Taishi Matsumoto was only kept out via a superb clearance from Eddy Israfilov.
But seven minutes into the second half, the hosts finally found the breakthrough.
As a corner was cleared to the edge of the box, Méndez looked to have an opening from range but opted to slide a pass to another lurking figure in Aketxe -- who proceeded to send a glorious left-footed effort curling into the top corner.
Three minutes after the hour mark, another piece of selfless play led to JDT doubling their advantage.
It initially seemed as though Sanfrecce would be able to clear their lines from an opposition corner but Israfilov -- venturing forward for the set-piece -- would weigh in with his second key contribution of the evening, this time at the attacking end.
Fittingly wearing the captain's armband following a first-half injury to Natxo Insa, Israfilov refused to give up on a lost cause and proceeded to rob Tsukasa Shiotani of possession inside the Sanfrecce area, before his cut-back -- with the help of a slight deflection -- would make its way to the feet of the ever-deadly Bérgson, who would make no mistake in dispatching a shot into the back of the net for what was surprisingly his first goal in the tournament this season.
JDT were now firmly in control. Yet, they really could, and perhaps should, have won by more.
Figueiredo was unlucky once more to see another effort come back off the post in the 81st minute, although a third goal for the Southern Tigers would eventually come three minutes later.
An electric counterattack initiated by Yago soon saw Óscar Arribas charging towards the opposition goal with almost no obstacles in his way after winning a pivotal 50-50 challenge by the halfway line. Faced with several options, Arribas picked the right one -- slipping the ball out left to pave the way for Guilherme to coolly lift his shot over the outstretched right hand of Keisuke Osako.
If the final whistle had blown right there and then, it would have been the perfect evening for JDT. It wasn't to be.
In the 86th minute, effectively right from the restart, a long throw by Shuto Nakano caused hesitation in the JDT area. Méndez's attempted clearance only sent the ball forward a couple of yards straight to Araki.
And, while his initial effort was saved by the feet of Andoni Zubiaurre, the ball would ricochet off an unknowing and luckless Nené into his own net.
It means a lifeline for Sanfrecce. A two-goal deficit is hardly impossible to overcome, especially with home advantage back in Hiroshima in a week's time.
For now, however, having never held a lead in the ACL Elite round of 16 be it over a single tie or two legs, the fact of the matter is that JDT are firmly on course for a historic quarterfinal appearance.
