PETALING JAYA: Bergson da Silva moved a step closer to securing a third straight Super League Golden Boot after producing a stunning six-goal haul in Johor Darul Ta’zim’s (JDT) record-breaking 14-1 demolition of Kelantan at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium on Sunday.
The Brazilian striker’s ruthless display lifted his league tally to 27 goals – four clear of Selangor’s Chrigor Moraes, who still has one league match remaining.
The emphatic victory also saw JDT equal the world record for the longest unbeaten streak in league football with 108 consecutive matches, matching Ivory Coast club ASEC Mimosas.
The 35-year-old struck in the first, 11th, 38th, 43rd, 53rd and 83rd minutes to cap another remarkable season for the Southern Tigers and move within one goal of reaching the 200-goal mark for JDT.
“In our last league game of the season, it was nice to see the fans and the atmosphere,” said Da Silva.
“At JDT, we do not just talk. We work hard and keep pushing for greatness through our actions.
“We will continue striving for more success.”
The Southern Tigers wasted little time asserting their dominance, with Da Silva opening the scoring inside the opening minute before the floodgates fully opened against a helpless Kelantan side.
Argentinian winger Manuel Hidalgo also enjoyed a memorable outing by netting a hattrick in the 16th, 25th and 62nd minutes, while Antonio Glauder, Stuart Wilkin, Yago Cesar, Syamer Kutty Abba and Teto Martin also got their names on the scoresheet.
Kelantan’s only consolation came through Farris Izdiham in the 64th minute.
The result eclipsed the previous Super League record of Selangor’s 11-2 victory over Kelantan on Aug 25, 2023. Before that, the biggest winning margin in league history was Perak’s 9-0 triumph over Malacca in 2007.
More significantly, JDT’s unbeaten streak now stretches back to April 2021, with the club completing four successive domestic league campaigns without defeat.
Coach Xisco Munoz described the current spell as one of the strongest periods in the club’s history and praised his players for maintaining their hunger despite years of dominance.
“It has been a very positive period. I believe this is the strongest JDT have played in the last few years,” said Munoz.
“We are already champions, but we continue pushing for new records, embracing big challenges and chasing bigger dreams.
“I am proud of the players and everyone at the club because they continue to show character and ambition.”
Despite the lopsided scoreline, Munoz said the team’s mentality impressed him the most.
“I enjoyed the players’ desire to keep fighting until the final minute. That is the standard we want at this club,” he added.
