Johor Darul Ta'zim cruise past Kuching City in Malaysian Cup clash

Malaysian giants Johor Darul Ta'zim FC continued their dominance in domestic cup competitions with a comfortable 2-0 victory over Kuching City FC on 23 May 2026 at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium. The Southern Tigers controlled proceedings from start to finish, advancing to the next round of the Malaysian Cup without ever needing to hit top gear.

Match overview

Johor Darul Ta'zim, the overwhelming favourites, faced a Kuching City side determined to frustrate them. However, the home team's quality soon told. With a packed house roaring them on, JDT dominated possession and created numerous chances. Kuching City, who ply their trade in the lower divisions, defended valiantly but ultimately could not withstand the relentless pressure.

Key moments

• 22nd minute: Star striker Bergson da Silva opened the scoring with a trademark header from a pinpoint cross by Matthew Davies. The Brazilian forward outjumped his marker to power the ball into the net.
• 44th minute: Johar was awarded a penalty after a handball inside the box. Bergson stepped up but saw his spot-kick saved by Kuching goalkeeper Shahrul Saad, keeping the score at 1-0 at halftime.
• 68th minute: JDT doubled their lead through midfielder Nazmi Faiz, who fired home from 20 yards after cutting inside from the left wing. The goal was a result of sustained pressure that finally cracked the Kuching defence.
• 83rd minute: Kuching City almost pulled one back when a long-range effort from Amirul Hisyam clipped the crossbar, but Johor's defence remained resolute.

Tactical story

Johor Darul Ta'zim deployed their usual 4-3-3 formation, with full-backs pushing high to create width. They used quick diagonal passes to switch the play and isolate Kuching's full-backs. Kuching City sat in a low 5-4-1 block, aiming to soak up pressure and hit on the break, but they rarely managed to retain possession long enough to cause real danger. JDT's midfield trio of Leandro Velázquez, Nazmi Faiz, and Safiq Rahim dictated the tempo effortlessly.

Standout players

• Bergson da Silva (Johor Darul Ta'zim): Despite missing a penalty, his movement and aerial threat were constant problems for the Kuching defence. His goal was a reminder of his class.
• Matthew Davies (Johor Darul Ta'zim): The right-back provided the assist for the opening goal and was a constant outlet down the flank.
• Shahrul Saad (Kuching City): The goalkeeper's fine penalty save and several other stops kept the scoreline respectable for his team.

Cup competition context

Johor Darul Ta'zim are the most successful club in Malaysian Cup history, and this victory reinforces their status as favourites to lift the trophy again. For Kuching City, the defeat is a learning experience as they continue to build their squad aiming for promotion to the top flight. JDT will now await the draw for the quarter-finals, where they are expected to face a sterner test.