match preview - usm v jdt
USM staged a brilliant comeback to beat PFA Odin on matchday 1, can they prevent high scoring JDT making it back to back wins in Circuit 5
USM take on Johor Darul Ta'zim on Sunday in matchday two of circuit five in the Malaysia Premier Futsal League 2026, with both sides carrying very different momentum from a dramatic opening day of the circuit.
Joao Almeida's side head into the match on the back of a 17-0 win over Wipers, a result that continued a run of heavy victories for a squad well used to putting matches to bed early. Despite being without their two foreigners Bruno Taffy and Alcantra there were plenty of other players happy to get amongst the goals, and JDT will be looking for a similar show of ruthlessness against a USM side they have already beaten comfortably once this year.
That earlier meeting came on the opening day of the season, when JDT ran out 9-1 winners in a one-sided contest, Bruno Taffy's hat-trick earning him the man-of-the-match award as Alcantra, Mahadir Harahap, Ekmal Shahrin and Awalludin Mat Nawi all got on the scoresheet. Eikmal Daniel's late reply was little consolation for USM on a difficult day.
Almeida is expected to give a debut to new signing Muhammad Bukhari who signed recently from ATM.
USM, though, arrive in altogether better spirits than that scoreline might suggest. Mohd Yuzmuhaimizee Bin Yaacob's side produced their best result of the season on matchday one, coming from 3-1 down to beat PFA Odin 4-3 in a thrilling finish. Izzat Aqiyudin has been the man USM have leaned on for goals throughout the campaign, and it was that same appetite for a fight that turned things around against PFA Odin, USM refusing to be put away before completing the turnaround.
It sets up a fascinating contrast in form for Sunday's return fixture. JDT will fancy their chances of a repeat of their opening day rout given the gulf between the sides so far this season, but USM will point to their comeback credentials from matchday one as evidence they are no longer there simply to be beaten. Both teams have shown they can score goals in bunches, and if USM can carry over the belief that got them past PFA Odin, this has the makings of a far closer affair than the first meeting suggested. For JDT, it is another chance to underline their status as one of the division's most ruthless finishing sides; for USM, a first result of note against one of the stronger teams in the league would be the perfect way to build on their matchday one fightback.
The match kicks off at 13.30 on Sunday