Bergson da Silva made an immediate impact for Malaysia in their opening match of the FIFA ASEAN Cup, scoring a goal to help secure a 3-0 victory over Bangladesh on Saturday at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta. The 35-year-old Brazilian-born forward, who was cleared to represent Malaysia less than two weeks ago, found the net in the second half following two first-half goals by winger Arif Aiman Hanapi.

Da Silva, who plays domestically for Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT), expressed surprise and pride at scoring on his debut for the national team. He described the experience as a source of happiness and a special moment to share with his teammates. Alongside Da Silva, fellow JDT players Manuel Hidalgo and Brad Tapp also made their international debuts in the match.

The victory secured Malaysia three crucial points as the team prepares for upcoming fixtures against tournament hosts Indonesia on Monday and Singapore on Thursday. Da Silva emphasized the importance of continuing their strong performances in these challenging encounters, highlighting the team's collective pride in representing the nation.

Interim coach Tan Cheng Hoe praised Bergson’s contribution, describing his debut goal as a significant morale boost for the squad. Cheng Hoe acknowledged the difficulty of the opening match but underscored the value of starting the competition with a win and building momentum ahead of the next game.

Malaysia’s solid performance against Bangladesh sets a positive tone for their campaign in the tournament as they look to advance past the group stage on foreign soil.