Pelita Bakrie left hanging on possible semifinal spot<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Luck handed Pelita Bakrie a prime opportunity to
\nreach the semifinals after it crushed Pupuk Kaltim 3-0 on
\nWednesday in the fifth Indonesian Soccer League (Ligina) playoffs
\nat the Senayan main stadium.<\/p>\n
Pelita striker Indrianto Nugroho was the star of the match,
\nproducing a hat trick in the seventh, 70th and 74th minutes to
\nincrease his team's chances in Group II.<\/p>\n
Pelita is tied at five points with PSMS Medan, two points
\nbehind group leader Persija. If PSMS loses to PSM Ujungpandang in
\nThursday's match, Pelita will face Persija in an April 1
\nsemifinal.<\/p>\n
In Wednesday's Group I match, Persikota Tangerang and
\nPetrokimia Putra of Gresik, East Java, played to a 1-1 draw.<\/p>\n
Pelita coach Danurwindo said his team performed excellently
\nfree of pressure because \"the players only wanted to win for the
\nsake of the supporters\".<\/p>\n
Speaking of the chance to qualify for the semifinal, the
\nformer national team coach said Pelita would have to wait for the
\nresult of the PSMS-PSM match.<\/p>\n
\"With good defenders and strikers, we only have to polish our
\nfinishing in the goal area,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Indrianto said he was surprised by his outstanding
\nperformance.<\/p>\n
\"I was more confident during the match and that enabled me to
\ngive my best. Hopefully, my effort can bring Pelita to the
\nsemifinal,\" said the 22-year-old former player of Primavera, the
\nteenage soccer team groomed in Italy.<\/p>\n
\"It's the first hat trick in my whole career, and I thank God
\nand my teammates who made it happen.\"<\/p>\n
Pupuk Kaltim coach Gusnul Yakin complained his players ignored
\nhis instructions to play tough from the outset.<\/p>\n
\"I don't know why the players didn't push Pelita. Instead,
\nthey moved very slow and failed to tighten their defense. It
\nenabled Pelita players to move freely,\" he said.<\/p>\n
In the second match, Petrokimia striker Sutamto earned the
\nonly goal in the first minute, but Persikota's captain Nova
\nZainal equalized six minutes later.<\/p>\n
Petrokimia coach Sanusi Rachman said his team would not dream
\nof reaching the semifinals after Wednesday's result.<\/p>\n
\"Our young players came to Senayan to gain experience. They
\nhave fine potential, but they still lack self-confidence and are
\nunable to make decisions during play,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Persikota's coach Sutan Harharah blamed the internal discord
\nfor his team's poor form during the league playoffs.<\/p>\n
He said his players were involved in heated dispute about his
\ncoaching because he failed to lead them to a semifinal spot.<\/p>\n
\"A player told me that I'm incapable and unprofessional. The
\nteam's officials also have problems among themselves. It has
\naffected the players' form.\"<\/p>\n
He said he would not apologize for the team's failure although
\nhe accepted responsibility for their performance.<\/p>\n
Apart from PSMS versus PSM, Thursday's other match will
\nfeature Persebaya against PSIS. (ivy)<\/p>\n
Results:
\n Pelita Bakrie 3 Pupuk Kaltim 0
\n Petrokimia Putra 1 Persikota 1<\/p>\n
Standing (playing, wins, draws, loses, points, average points):<\/p>\n
Group I:
\n Persebaya 3 2 1 0 6-3 7
\n PSIS 3 2 1 0 6-3 7
\n Semen Padang 3 0 3 0 4-4 3
\n Persikota 4 0 2 2 3-4 2
\n Petrokimia Putra 3 0 1 2 1-4 1<\/p>\n
Group II:
\n Persija 3 2 1 0 4-2 7
\n Pelita Bakrie 4 1 2 1 4-2 5
\n PSMS 3 1 2 0 3-2 5
\n Pupuk Kaltim 3 1 0 2 1-4 3
\n PSM 3 0 1 2 1-3 1<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/pelita-bakrie-left-hanging-on-possible-semifinal-spot-1447893297",
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