PSM beats Persita to keep lead in RI league
Andi Hajramurni, Makassar, South Sulawesi
PSM of Makassar maintained the lead in the Indonesian soccer league after scraping to a 1-0 victory over 10-man Persita of Tangerang at Mattoangin Stadium here on Wednesday.
Ortisan Salossa scored the only goal in the game in the 84th minute to ensure the team remained on top with 31 points. Persebaya was close in second place, only a point behind, but the leader has played one game less.
Persebaya chalked up a controversial 1-0 win over Persib in Surabaya in the match in which Kurniawan Dwi Julianto seemed to dive to earn a penalty kick, which was then successfully executed by Brazilian Danilo Fernando.
The match, which was aired live on ANTV, was marred by referee Jimmy Napitupulu's refusal to continue officiating, saying that he had been hit on the head by some home fans when he was about to start the second half.
"I can't go on for the second half. My head was hit by someone when I rushed out of the changing room," Napitupulu said when he filed a complaint with the match supervisor, as reported by Antara.
Napitupulu's boycott caused a 15-minute delay before it was decided he would be replaced by Tavip Dwi Handaya.
Persija was also the 1-0 winner away over Deltras Sidoarjo to stay in third place with 28 points. However, the Jakarta-based team still has a game in hand compared with the leader.
In Makassar, in front of 20,000 fans, PSM had to work hard in the game against Persita.
The hosts attacked from the start but were unable to find the net under the guard of A. Kurniawan.
Even when the visitors were reduced to 10 men toward the end of the first half, none of the rash of scoring chances was converted to a goal.
Persita had N. Dollar sent off by referee Yesayas Leihatu for two bookable offenses.
PSM did not relax the offensive. Spearheaded by Christian Gonzales, they almost fully took control of the game, with Persita switching to defensive play.
The raucous support finally found relief when Salossa sealed the winner six minutes from the end.
After taking a pass at the defending area, Salossa drove his way past three defenders before firing home at the left corner of the goal, with the keeper gasping.
While ruing the missed chance of winning by a larger margin, PSM manager Kadir Halid praised a solid defense by Persita, which is under the guidance of former PSM coach Muhammad Basri.
"Our players were tempted to rush in the game. That caused them to lose accuracy when they approached the goalpost. They squandered many chances. At the other end, the Persita goalkeeper also played well," he said.
Basri admitted PSM had a better crop of players than his own. He looked pleased that his team conceded only one goal, given that they played with 10 men away in Makassar.
In Surabaya, the referee awarded Persebaya a penalty kick after Kurniawan was dubiously adjudged of having been tripped by a Persib defender.
The judgment drew a protest from Persib players but the stand- in referee persisted in his decision.
Persela and PKT Bontang romped home to 4-0 and 4-1 victories over Persikota and Pelita KS respectively. In the other match, Persijatim was held to a goal-less draw by PSIS Semarang.
Wednesday's results:
Persebaya - Persib 1-0 Persela - Persikota 4-0 Deltras - Persija 0-1 PKT Bontang - Pelita KS 4-1 Persijatim - PSIS Semarang 0-0 PSM - Persita 1-0