Junior team beats Persija 3-2<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The national junior soccer team scored a 3-2
\nvictory over Persija - last April's amateur, inter-city soccer
\nchampionship finalists - in a proving ground match at a packed
\nSenayan Stadium on Saturday.<\/p>\n
The friendly game was meant to condition the junior team,
\nwhich has just returned from training in Italy, for the Asian
\nUnder-19 Championship slated to be held here from Sept. 11 to 25.<\/p>\n
It took the teenagers 29 minutes to score their first goal in
\nthe first half, by way of Nurul Huda - a newcomer who joined the
\nteam a few months ago.<\/p>\n
Prolific striker Kurniawan Yulianto, an Italian Cup winner who
\nwas Sampdoria's import player during their Asia tour last April,
\nmade it 2-0 eight minutes later.<\/p>\n
With a 2-0 lead in the first half, the under-20-year-old
\nbooters seemed to be overconfident, as their coach Danurwindo
\nlater remarked. This overconfidence weakened their defense and
\ngave Persija the leeway to equalize.<\/p>\n
However, the junior team's victory was finally sealed as
\nKurniawan roared back with his second goal, in the 54th minute of
\nthe game.<\/p>\n
Commenting on the junior team's triumph, Azwar Anas, chairman
\nof the All-Indonesia Football Association (PSSI), was reported by
\nAntara to have been deeply impressed. He went on to say that the
\nyouths had made considerable progress after one year of training
\nin Italy and that their quality of play was by no means below
\ntheir seniors.<\/p>\n
Ten teams qualify for the under-19 competitions staged at
\nSenayan stadium, with host Indonesia earning an automatic entry.
\nKurniawan and company will set off their campaign against Qatar
\non Sept. 11. (arf)<\/p>",
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