Johor Darul Ta'zim and Machida Zelvia played out a frustrating goalless draw at Sultan Ibrahim Stadium on Tuesday, with both sides failing to break the deadlock in their AFC Champions League Elite encounter. The result leaves the Malaysian champions languishing in 10th place in the East Region standings, while the Japanese visitors climb to 8th position with their second consecutive draw in the competition.

The match, which kicked off at 12:15 UTC in Iskandar Puteri, showcased two well-organized defenses that ultimately proved too stubborn for either attack to overcome. Despite the home advantage and passionate support, JDT struggled to create clear-cut opportunities against a disciplined Machida Zelvia side that appeared content to frustrate their hosts.

The first half passed without major incident, with both teams canceling each other out in midfield. The deadlock continued after the interval, though the tempo increased as substitutions were introduced. JDT made tactical changes in the 46th minute, bringing on Jairo for Bergson and replacing M. Duke with S. Fujio, while also introducing K. Hayashi for A. Masuyama.

Machida Zelvia responded with their own personnel changes, with manager making several substitutions throughout the second period. The visitors' best chance came deep into stoppage time when Takuma Nishimura's right-footed effort from the center of the box narrowly missed the target, assisted by a headed pass from Mitch Duke.

The match featured several contentious moments, including a 23rd-minute incident involving Y. Soma that saw the woodwork rattled, and a 30th-minute foul by A. Fazail that disrupted JDT's rhythm. Both sides accumulated cards as frustrations mounted, with the referee adding four minutes of additional time in the second half.

For JDT, this represents a disappointing start to their Champions League Elite campaign, having managed just one point from their opening two fixtures. The Southern Tigers desperately needed three points to kickstart their continental ambitions but were unable to find the cutting edge required against stubborn Japanese opposition.

Machida Zelvia, meanwhile, will be pleased with another clean sheet and valuable point on the road. Their defensive solidity has been evident in both Champions League Elite matches, though they'll need to improve their attacking output to progress from the group stage.

The result keeps both teams in the lower half of the East Region table, with significant work ahead if either hopes to reach the knockout rounds of Asia's premier club competition.