The win means JDT will finish in fourth spot in the East Zone while three-time Asian champions Pohang – who end their campaign on nine points – were eliminated.
Juan Muniz and Murilo returned to the starting line-up shore up JDT’s attack after missing the Central Coast Mariners’ match last week because of suspension but it was Pohang who threatened first when Juninho flashed a shot just wide in the sixth minute.
The diminutive Muniz then had a swerving shot from distance that was punched away by Pohang goalkeeper Yoon Pyung-guk before curling a free-kick just over moments later.
The breakthrough came in the 27th minute as Pohang became the first away side to score at Sultan Ibrahim Stadium this campaign when Jorge Luiz swung in a cross from the left that was met by an unmarked Lee Ho-jae who nodded home the opener.
Spurred on by the home crowd, JDT burst into life 10 minutes later as Jonathan Vieira delivered the perfect cross for Bergson to power a header in which Yoon could only palm into the path of Oscar Arribas who tucked away the rebound with ease.
JDT shaded the game early in the second half and were rewarded in the 52nd minute when Bergson shrugged off the challenge of Lee Dong-hee and nipped in ahead of the on-rushing Yoon before squeezing in a shot from an acute angle.
Things got worse for the Korea Republic side four minutes later when Arif Aiman closed down on Yoon and intercepted the attempted pass, tricking the Pohang keeper before coolly slotting home his fifth goal of the campaign.
Pohang pulled one back through Kang Hyeon-je in the 80th minute following Hong Yun-sang’s pass but Jese Rodriguez’s stoppage time goal restored JDT’s two-goal lead.
The icing on the cake came in the 15th minute of added time when Jorge Obregon stepped up to convert from 12 yards as JDT marched into the knockout stage with a comprehensive win.
