When people tuned in to the October 25 Liga Super Malaysia clash between Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) and DPMM FC, many expected a battle between royals. Instead, they witnessed another testament to JDT’s unrelenting dominance, as the Southern Tigers tore apart their Bruneian counterparts 10-0 at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium in Iskandar Puteri — their biggest win of the 2025/26 season.
Brazilian hitman Bergson da Silva was in sensational form, netting four goals in a masterful display that left the visitors shell-shocked. His opener in the ninth minute from Arif Aiman Hanapi’s assist set the tone before he doubled the lead from the spot in the 35th and completed his hat-trick just two minutes later. Oscar Arribas made it 4-0 before half-time, while after the break, goals from Manuel Hidalgo, Arif Aiman, Jairo da Silva, Romel Morales, and an own goal by Yunus Putera piled on the misery. Bergson added his fourth in the 73rd minute to cap off a ruthless night.
The emphatic win, which keeps JDT unbeaten with 24 points from eight matches, came under the guidance of head coach Xisco Muñoz, who has maintained the club’s sky-high standards even as the team navigates challenges off the pitch. The Southern Tigers were missing several key players suspended in the aftermath of the Malaysia national team naturalization scandal — yet their depth and cohesion proved more than enough to dismantle DPMM.
While JDT and DPMM entered the match on opposite ends of the table — with JDT once again dominating the league and DPMM struggling in their first season back in Malaysia after years in the Singapore Premier League — both clubs share a royal connection.
JDT’s remarkable rise is fueled by the vision and investment of Tunku Ismail Idris, whose commitment transformed the club from a modest southern outfit into one of Southeast Asia’s most formidable forces, complete with world-class facilities and a robust development system.
DPMM, meanwhile, are backed by the royal family of Brunei Darussalam, with Crown Prince Al-Muhtadee Billah, the eldest son of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, serving as chairman and owner. Unlike their Johor counterparts, DPMM have been more conservative with their spending, though their return to Malaysian football was bolstered by several notable signings such as Ramadhan Sananta, Amani Aguinaldo, Tommy Mawat Bada, Syafiq Ahmad, Fairuz Zakaria, and Jordan Murray.
In the end, however, royal backing could only carry DPMM so far. Against JDT’s relentless machine, even nobility found no reprieve.