PETALING JAYA: Johor Darul Ta’zim’s (JDT) naturalised Brazilian striker Bergson da Silva is a reliable goalscorer who delivers season after season.
And his ability to adapt and strike up an understanding with any teammate makes him even more dangerous.
All he needs is for someone to feed him the ball.
On Saturday, Bergson was on target again, scoring the opener in JDT’s 2-0 away win over Brunei in the FA Cup semi-final first leg.
“I always adapt to whoever I play with, that’s my character and style. I always do my best to finish off the chances given by my teammates,” he said.
Every season, Bergson had different wingers and playmakers providing him and this season, he has played alongside players like naturalised Argentinian playmaker Manuel Hidalgo, Brazilian wingers Yago da Silva and Marcus Guilherme and mercurial winger Arif Aiman Hanapi.
The 35-year-old Da Silva has so far played 11 matches, scoring 10 goals and making three assists in all competitions this season.
Da Silva also relished the atmosphere at the Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Stadium in Bandar Seri Begawan last Friday, where about 13,000 fans turned up.
“We miss this kind of atmosphere. We usually get this kind of turnout in our home games.”
The Southern Tigers went ahead in the 20th minute after a miscommunication between Brunei centrebacks Ebenezer Abban and Clark Robertson.
The pair failed to deal with a lobbed ball from playmaker Manuel Hidalgo, and Bergson capitalised, slotting past goalkeeper Samuel Somerville.
JDT doubled their lead in the 71st minute. Azerbaijani centreback Eddy Israfilov bundled in a loose ball from a corner taken by winger Arif Aiman Hanapi.
JDT, who won the title in 2016, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025, will look to seal a place in the final when they host Brunei in the second leg at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium in Iskandar Puteri on Nov 8.
Brunei winger Farris Izdiham Awang Kechik acknowledged the task ahead is tough, but vowed his team will fight on.
“JDT are the best team in Asia.
‘‘We played well and defended strongly but got undone in some moments.
“It is not over. One more leg, we will give our all,” said the 25-year-old, who has scored one goal and two assists in five matches in the FA Cup.
