Arema pip Persija to win Copa<\/p>\n
Moch. N. Kurniawan
\nThe Jakarta Post\/Jakarta<\/p>\n
In a dramatic, tension-filled game marred by controversial
\nrefereeing, Arema Malang handed Persija Jakarta its second final
\nloss of the year on Saturday to win the Copa Dji Sam Soe national
\nsoccer title.<\/p>\n
As with Persija's defeat in the elite Indonesian League final
\nat Bung Karno Stadium, Central Jakarta, in September, the see-saw
\ngame needed extra time before Arema eked out a 4-3 victory for
\nthe winner's check of Rp 1 billion (about US$100,000).<\/p>\n
\"They ran and ran and never complained,\" Arema coach Benny
\nDolo said of his side, nicknamed the \"crazy lions\". \"That was the
\nkey to winning the match.\" .<\/p>\n
\"Perhaps God just didn't want to give us a title this year,\"
\nPersija assistant coach Isman Jasulmei said of the loss.<\/p>\n
The teams -- with Arema having won their first encounter this
\nyear before a tie in a Copa preliminary match -- attacked from
\nthe outset.<\/p>\n
Persija struck first, with Fatecha taking advantage of Arema
\ngoalkeeper Iskandar Silas O's fumbled handling of an Ismed Sofyan
\nfree kick in the 12th minute.<\/p>\n
In the 20th minute, Arema's Erol F.X. Iba put through an
\nexcellent cross to Franco Hita, who controlled the ball off his
\nchest and spun around to score.<\/p>\n
Arema opened up a 2-1 lead in the 55th minute when Firman
\nUtina made an unstoppable run from midfield.<\/p>\n
With the visitors in the lead, referee Jajat Sudrajat made
\nthe first of a series of controversial decisions two minutes
\nlater, awarding a penalty to Persija after an Arema player's
\nhandball. Roger Batoum scored from the penalty spot to level at
\n2-2.<\/p>\n
The tension rose in the 64th minute when Arema's Alex Pulalo
\nwas sent off for a dangerous tackle on Ortisan Salossa.<\/p>\n
Incensed Arema players walked off the field amid demands for
\nthe referee to be replaced. However, Jajat stayed put when the
\nplayers returned 15 minutes later, and, as if to put matters
\nright, sent off Persija's Aris Indarto for a harsh tackle.<\/p>\n
The match became a desperate fight to the end. Firman put
\nArema ahead again in the 74th minute, only for substitute
\nKurniawan Dwi Julianto to level six minutes later with a header.<\/p>\n
Firman scored his hat trick with a low shot past Persija
\nkeeper Mukti Ali Raja in the 97th minute, for a 4-3 scoreline
\nthat held despite Persija's last-gasp efforts.<\/p>",
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