Arema upsets favorite Persija in league quarters<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Home favorite Persija was upset 1-2 by Arema of
\nMalang in Sunday's opening quarterfinals match followed by an
\nincident on the field between players from both teams. Both sides
\nalso questioned referee Yulius Dede's judgment.<\/p>\n
In the second match, Persikota Tangerang managed to create a
\nnarrow 1-0 victory over Pelita Solo in a spiritless contest.<\/p>\n
Pacho Rubio of Arema scored both goals in the 22th and 40th
\nminute of the first half. Persija's Imran Nahumarury managed to
\nnarrow 1-2 after netting the ball in the 65th minute.<\/p>\n
The incident, which halted the match for seven minutes, took
\nplace after Persija's Brazilian midfielder Luciano Leandro
\nknocked down Arema's Chilean defender Pacho Rubio at center field
\nin the 68th minute.<\/p>\n
Rubio's teammate Rodrigo F. Araya, who was annoyed by
\nLeandro's action, approached him and started to push him.
\nLeandro, who was irritated by Araya's provocative move, slapped
\nthe Arema top midfielder on his face.<\/p>\n
Officials and players from the two clubs immediately divided
\nthem. After a brief review, Dede awarded a yellow card to Araya
\nand a red card to Leandro.<\/p>\n
Bad-tempered Rubio claimed he was beaten by Leandro.<\/p>\n
\"Luciano hit me and stepped on me. He deserves the red card,\"
\nhe said. He also dismissed allegations of playing dirty to spark
\nLeandro's emotions.<\/p>\n
But Rubio said he was emotional seeing the referee did not
\nsanction Nuralim of Persija after pushing him in the first half.
\nMoreover, the referee awarded him a yellow card when he pushed
\nanother Persija player.<\/p>\n
\"After we lead 2-0, Persija seemed bewildered. You see, I
\nalways earned a goal whenever I was in the penalty box. I don't
\nwant to question the red card. It's the Soccer Association of
\nIndonesia's (PSSI) problem.\"<\/p>\n
Leandro was not available for comment. But Persija's Bulgarian
\ncoach Ivan Kolev said that Leandro should behave himself during
\nthe match.<\/p>\n
\"Leandro should be fined. He can't beat people during a match.
\nHe's not a rogue but a professional soccer player. And he came
\nhere to play soccer, not to fight,\" he said after the match.<\/p>\n
Kolev also expressed his regret because the referee failed to
\nstop the time and extend it after the incident. \"The incident
\ntook eight minutes and it was another five to six minutes to
\nexchange players. At least we lost 15 minutes,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The opening match was not organized with good order. Hundreds
\nof Arema's supporters from Aremania and Pelita supporters from
\nPasoepati split to the soccer field in the absence of security
\nofficials.<\/p>\n
In Makassar, South Sulawesi, host PSM Makassar fulfilled its
\nambition to defeat PSMS Medan 1-0 thanks to top striker Kurniawan
\nDwi Yulianto who scored the only goal at the Mattoangin stadium.<\/p>\n
About 25,000 spectators in the stadium expressed their joy
\nwith the goal which opens their team's way to reach the final
\nfour.<\/p>\n
In another match, Persijatim and Pupuk Kaltim (PKT) performed
\nmonotonously for 90 minutes until referee Jajat Sudrajat blew the
\nwhistle to end the scoreless match.<\/p>\n
Dominating the first half, PSM -- backboned by national team
\nmembers including Aji Santoso, Bima Sakti and Kurniawan -- must
\nthank midfielder Carlos de Mello for supplying the ball to duo
\nstrikers Miro Baldo Bento and Kurniawan, who managed to net the
\nball in the 22nd minute.<\/p>\n
PSMS coach Suimi Diharja set the offside trap which made PSM
\nsides, coached by Henk Wullems, unable to strike.<\/p>\n
But in the second half, players from both teams seemed to lose
\ntheir stamina and fitness.<\/p>\n
Kurniawan scored another goal in the 75th minute with his
\nscissors kick but referee Mansyur Lestaluhu annulled the goal.<\/p>\n
PSMS's Jaime Rojas of Chile had a perfect chance to tie in the
\n80th minute with his hard kick but PSM goalkeeper Hendro Kartiko
\nperformed outstandingly to dismiss the attack. (27\/ivy)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/arema-upsets-favorite-persija-in-league-quarters-1447893297",
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