Tigers’ hot striker: JDT’s Bergson Da Silva celebrates with teammate Arif Aiman Mohd Hanapi after scoring the first goal against Sabah in the Malaysia Cup second leg semi-final match at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium. — Bernama
PETALING JAYA: Less talk, more action.
That’s how single-minded and focused Johor Darul Ta’zim aim to be after sensationally storming into the Malaysia Cup final with a 3-1 win over Sabah at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium in Iskandar Puteri on Sunday.
JDT took the lead through Brazilian striker Bergson Da Silva in the 36th minute when he took advantage of Sabah’s lackadaisical defending by securing his 45th goal of the season and his sixth in the Malaysia Cup.
Six minutes later, Argentinian striker Fernando Forestieri doubled the lead for the home side with a superb finish.
Sabah reduced the deficit in the 47th minute through Japanese playmaker Taiki Kagayama but JDT killed off any hopes of a comeback when substitute Syafiq Ahmad netted a third for the Southern Tigers in the 93rd minute.
In the first leg, JDT had edged Sabah 1-0 in Kota Kinabalu last week.
JDT coach Hector Bidoglio knows his team have a great chance to nail a quadruple if they can go all the way to win the final at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil on Nov 26 but he wants them to focus on working harder in the next few days.
“We don’t need to speak too much but work, work and work. That’s how I want things to be done. I see the work they do every day in training. It’s immense,” said the former Venezuelan international.
“We now have one more game to assert our dominance. We have the best chance to complete the quadruple because everyone in the team is prepared to do it.
“We will have Leandro (Velasquez) and Feroz (Baharuddin) returning from suspension, so I have a week to assess my best line-up for the game.
“Whoever I play, I know they have what it takes to win the Malaysia Cup.”
This season, JDT have already won the Charity Shield, FA Cup and Super League. Winning the Malaysia Cup will mean they will be the first side to do the quadruple.
Their final opponents will be the winners of the semi-final match between Terengganu and Selangor.
“Right now, I’m only concerned about JDT and what we can do. We managed to get past Sabah, who are formidable opponents. Whether Terengganu or Selangor, we have a week to get ready.”
