PETALING JAYA: Missing a penalty is hard for a hitman of Bergson da Silva’s stature to take.
And Johor Darul Ta’zim’s (JDT) 35-year-old Brazilian could not help being alarmed after seeing his spot-kick saved by Kuala Lumpur goalkeeper Hafizul Hakim during the first-half of their Malaysia Cup semi-final second leg on Tuesday.
Had he converted, he would have put JDT 1-0 ahead in the home tie where they were already leading 4-0 on aggregate.
But staying true to his indomitable spirit, Da Silva did not let that spot of bother trouble him for long.
He came back strongly in the second half to fire a brace in the 4-1 win, as JDT reached the final for the sixth straight time.
Da Silva’s clinical display was a showcase of the predatory instincts that have made him the most feared striker in Malaysian football.
Reflecting on his comeback after the penalty miss, Da Silva said: “We didn’t start well. We created chances but didn’t convert them, so we had to work harder to get the result.
“In the second half, we piled on the pressure, kept creating chances and got the goals we deserved. It’s a well-deserved win and we’re into another final.
“Our mentality is always to be ready. Even when the coach rotates the squad, we keep pushing to stay in his plans. On the field, we never give up.
“Even when I miss chances, I will keep going to help the team get goals and wins.”
Since making his professional debut in 2009 with Brazilian Serie A side Gremio, Da Silva has amassed an impressive 248 goals in 466 matches.
His impact at JDT has been nothing short of extraordinary. Since joining in 2021, he has netted 184 goals in 182 appearances, underlining his status as one of the club’s greatest forwards.
His trophy haul is equally remarkable, featuring five Super League titles, four FA Cups, four Charity Shields and three Malaysia Cups.
He also finished as the Super League’s top scorer in 2022 and 2025, and currently leads the Golden Boot race with 20 goals this campaign.
This season alone, Da Silva has scored 34 goals in all competitions.
He is expected to add to his tally in JDT’s Super League match against Terengganu at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium tomorrow.
After that, they will head to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, for the AFC Champions League Elite quarter-final, where they will take on either Al-Ahli or Al-Duhail on April 17.
