PETALING JAYA: The Sultan Ibrahim Stadium glittered under the lights on Sunday night as Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) produced a performance worthy of history.
The Southern Tigers not only demolished Sabah 8-0 but also broke the Malaysian Super League record for consecutive wins, stretching their streak to 23 victories since Aug 9, 2024.
The result eclipsed their own previous record of 22, achieved between Oct 2022 and Aug 2023.
The win extends JDT’s perfect start to the season - six matches, six wins, 26 goals scored, and just three conceded.
For JDT coach Xisco Munoz, the performance was a reflection of his team’s philosophy.
“The game was perfect. From the first minute until the end, the level was good. We had rhythm, we were aggressive with the ball, and this is the vision we wanted,” said the Spaniard.
“I want to congratulate the boys. Everyone enjoyed the performance. We won and made history, but what matters is that we continue to give maximum effort every game.”
And as if that were not enough, the night also witnessed Bergson Da Silva becoming the league’s all-time top scorer with 109 goals after scoring in the 62nd, 74th and 92nd minutes. The other scorers were Spanish wingback Oscar Arribas (fifth minute), Brazilian striker Joao Figueiredo (11th, 23rd and 45th), and Raul Parra (44th).
Added Munoz: “We need to keep working, because everyday, we want to be even stronger.”
For Sabah coach Jean Paul de Marigny, the gulf in quality was clear, but vowed to bounce back from the heavy defeat.
“They have quality and depth everywhere, and their finishing was outstanding. We got overloaded in midfield, and JDT rotated very well,” said the Australian.
“It was tough for my boys, but they kept going. We’ll freshen up and look to start over.”
