Mastrans and PSM set up league final showdown<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Mastrans Bandung Raya and PSM Ujungpandang
\nsurvived tough tests yesterday to set up a final showdown for the
\nIndonesian soccer league championship title.<\/p>\n
A weakened Mastrans was forced to play extra time in its
\nsemifinal match against Mitra Surabaya before winning the penalty
\nshoot-out 4-2. Earlier in the day, PSM overturned a 1-3 deficit
\nto beat Persipura Jayapura 4-3.<\/p>\n
Mass brawls and vandalism erupted outside the stadium
\nfollowing Mastrans' victory, despite the presence of some 1,200
\nsecurity officers deployed to maintain order during the high-
\ntempered matches.<\/p>\n
At least two people, identified as Alex and Malata, were
\nseriously wounded and dozens of cars were smashed during the
\ndisturbances. Three buses were also destroyed, as passengers and
\nbus crew were taken by surprise by flying rocks.<\/p>\n
While both PSM and Persipura delighted the crowd in the half-
\nfilled Senayan stadium, Mastrans and Mitra failed to live up to
\ntheir billings as the country's leading teams.<\/p>\n
Mastrans, playing without the league's top scorer Dejan
\nGlusevic, relied on the herculean efforts of its lone striker
\nPeri Sandria, but to no avail thanks in part to brilliant dives
\nfrom Mitra's stubborn goalkeeper Hendro Kartiko.<\/p>\n
Peri, last year's top scorer who now needs six goals to beat
\nGlusevic's benchmark of 30, wasted numerous golden chances,
\nincluding one a few seconds after the break. The 29-year-old
\nnational player had only Hendro to beat, but his volley coasted
\nan inch past the left post.<\/p>\n
Mitra's two Brazilians, Carlos de Mello and Gomez de Oliviera,
\ndealt their own side a deadly blow as their powerless shots were
\ndenied by Hermansyah during the penalty shoot-out.<\/p>\n
All Mastrans' penalty takers, Adnan Mukmin, Hendriawan,
\nAlexander Saununu and Nur Alim, were on target. Mitra scored
\nthrough Marzuki Badriawan and Andri Priyanto.<\/p>\n
In the first semifinal, a trio of Brazilians inspired PSM to a
\nsuperb comeback. The Eastern Conference league winner, trailed 1-
\n3 with 17 minutes remaining in its rematch against Persipura. But
\nceaseless pressure paid off for PSM as substitute Arif Kamaruddin
\nand Brazilian defender Marcio Novo scored a goal each in a two-
\nminute spell to bring the team back into the match.<\/p>\n
Rachman Usman sealed Persipura's fate four minutes from time
\nin conjunction with his striking partner, Brazil's Jacksen Tiago.
\nBoth forwards broke away in an assault built up from the back.
\nWith only a defender left in the box, Rachman slammed in a cross-
\nshot that beat Persipura's stranded goalkeeper Helcony.<\/p>\n
Brazilian striker Luciano Leandro, who scored the winner in
\nPSM's 1-0 victory over Persipura in their final-12 group match
\nlast week, posed a persistent danger to the Irianese defense, but
\nlacked sufficient composure to convert a number of chances into
\ngoals.<\/p>\n
He joined the goal bonanza midway into the first half, scoring
\nfrom the penalty spot to level the tie at 1-1 after Alfred
\nRepasi's shocking 12th minute goal for Persipura.<\/p>\n
A shaky defense marshaled by Novo handed PSM a second blow in
\nthe 37th minute when captain Robby Wabia latched onto a through
\npass from Eduard Ivakdalam with a right-footer from close range.<\/p>\n
A spirited Persipura looked certain to book a final berth when
\nIvakdalam put the country's easternmost team two goals up five
\nminutes after the break. But the Irianese slowed the pace,
\nplaying mostly in their own half to let PSM strike back. (bsr\/amd)<\/p>",
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