KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 22 — Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) striker Bergson Da Silva delivered yet another standout performance, netting his third hat-trick of the season as the Southern Tigers thrashed Kelantan Darul Naim FC 6-1 in a Super League match at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium, Iskandar Puteri, tonight.

Bergson opened the scoring in the 42nd minute, quickly following up with two more goals in the 45th and 48th minutes. In the second half, JDT winger Arif Aiman Mohd Hanapi added to the tally with goals in the 56th and 58th minutes. Kelantan Darul Naim managed a consolation goal through Layth Khoroub in the 65th minute, but Bergson completed his hat-trick in the 71st minute. The final blow came from an own goal by Kelantan defender Muhammad Umeir Aznan in the 75th minute.

Despite Kelantan Darul Naim being the designated home team, the match was played at JDT’s Sultan Ibrahim Stadium due to ongoing renovations at the Sultan Muhammad IV Stadium in Kota Bharu, expected to be completed by mid-next month. 

JDT, under the leadership of Hector Bidoglio, remain firmly at the top of the league with 28 points from 10 matches, six points clear of second-placed Selangor FC, while Terengganu FC sit third with 16 points.

Meanwhile, over at the City Stadium in Georgetown, Penang FC were held to a 2-2 draw by Negeri Sembilan FC (NSFC). NSFC struck early, with Muhammad Hadin Azman scoring in the first minute. Penang FC equalised in the 14th minute through striker Rodrigo Dias, and two minutes later, Dylan Wenzel-Halls put the home team ahead. However, NSFC’s new import, Sebastian Avanzini, scored the equaliser just before halftime, leaving both teams with a point each.