Taking his best shot: JDT’s Bergson da Silva (centre) attempts to score against Melbourne City during the AFC Champions League Elite match in Melbourne yesterday. — AFP
PETALING JAYA: Bergson da Silva walked off the pitch at the Melbourne Rectangular Stadium with an expression that said everything – frustration, pride, and a firm belief that Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) are capable of far more than what the scoreboard showed.
For the Brazilian striker, yesterday’s 2-0 defeat to Melbourne City in the AFC Champions League Elite was less a blow to confidence than a reminder of the fine margins that separate triumph from disappointment at this level.
Despite the loss – JDT’s second in the competition – Bergson saw reasons for optimism.
“To be honest, I am proud of how we played,” he said after the match.
“We improved as the game went along and you can see the statistics, we created so many chances. One defeat does not define us.”
His words were backed by the numbers. After conceding in only the second minute, when Max Caputo turned in a corner from Takeshi Kanamori, JDT seized control of the game.
From that moment on, they dictated the tempo, pinning Melbourne deep and forcing the home side into long spells of defending.
The Southern Tigers finished with more than 55% possession and an impressive 23 chances created – more than double Melbourne’s total.
Yet, as Bergson noted, football is cruel when the ball refuses to go in. The moment that summed up JDT’s day arrived in the 79th minute. Raul Parra drilled in a low cross across the face of goal, splitting the Melbourne backline and leaving Jairo Da Silva with the simplest of chances.
The Brazilian’s effort, however, clattered against the crossbar, bouncing straight into the grateful arms of goalkeeper Patrick Beach.
That miss, one of two big chances JDT spurned, proved decisive.
“We were undone by two counter-attacking situations where we made mistakes,” the 34-year-old Bergson said.
“But goals win you games. If you do not score, you do not win.”
Beach, later named man of the match after producing nine saves, admitted his side had been stretched to their limits.
“It was understandably a tough game,” he said.
“We were under the pump throughout the match but we set ourselves well to execute our plans. So, a huge three points for us. We know JDT are among the top teams in the competition, so well done to us.”
Melbourne’s resilience paid off deep into stoppage time when substitute Medin Memeti delivered the knockout blow.
Slipping past two exhausted JDT defenders, he rifled the ball past Andoni Zubiaurre to put the match beyond reach at 2-0.
For JDT, the defeat stung not because they were outplayed, but because they had done so much right and still left empty-handed.
Yet Bergson stood firm in his message – the team’s identity remains unshaken.
“I believe we have what it takes to get to the next stage,” he said.
“One needs to understand how big this logo is. We want to win the next game and show what we are all about.”
That next game comes quickly. JDT will now turn their focus to Saturday’s FA Cup semi-final second leg against Kuching City at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium.
