Arif Aiman put Johor Darul Ta'zim ahead of Chelsea in the 14th minute of their club friendly at Stadium Sultan Ibrahim in Johor. The Malaysian side capitalised on a rare chance, putting pressure on the English club from the outset and forcing Chelsea to chase the game. The fixture was listed for 8:00 p.m. on 9 August 2026 at JDT’s home stadium.
Chelsea controlled 61.1% of possession and matched Johor Darul Ta'zim in total shots, but struggled to break through the home defence. The Premier League team managed five shots, two on target, but failed to find the net. Johor Darul Ta'zim had only one shot on target and made it count, while their goalkeeper made two saves to preserve the advantage.
The statistics show Chelsea's edge in passing, with 170 passes and 87.1% accuracy, compared with Johor Darul Ta'zim's 108 passes and 78.7%. The hosts committed eight fouls and won 87.5% of their tackles. Chelsea committed five fouls and won 66.7% of their tackles, but could not turn their territorial advantage into goals.
Chelsea also led on corners, earning two to Johor Darul Ta'zim's none. The teams were level in total shots, but the Malaysian side's finishing proved decisive in the first half. Watched live by more than 2,000 viewers, the match remained open as Chelsea looked to respond and overturn the deficit.
Arif Aiman, a JDT midfielder born on 3 May 2002, is listed at 171 centimetres in a Canarias7 football-statistics profile, which records his weight as 66 kilograms. A separate 2026 entry lists him with JDT wearing number 10. The goal gave the home side an early advantage in a high-profile friendly against English opposition at its own stadium.
Club friendlies give teams a testing ground for tactics and squad depth. A result like this can boost Johor Darul Ta'zim's confidence and highlight areas for Chelsea to improve ahead of the competitive season. Such matches also give Asian clubs valuable exposure against European opposition. Although friendlies do not affect official standings, they can influence team morale and offer insights into player form and readiness.
