Persib, Petrokimia reach semis in style<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Persib Bandung and Petrokimia Putra blasted
\ntheir way into the semifinals of the Indonesian soccer league
\nchampionship in devastating style yesterday with crushing 3-0
\nvictories over Assyabaab and Medan Jaya respectively.<\/p>\n
The goal spree ended the week-long scoring drought in the
\nquarterfinals which kicked off last Wednesday. Persib's Sutiono
\nand Petrokimia's Widodo Putra stole the limelight in yesterday's
\nGroup B final matches, scoring two goals each to lead their teams
\nto tomorrow's semifinals.<\/p>\n
Persib finished the group with seven points from two wins and
\na draw. Petrokimia of Gresik, East Java settled for the second
\nplace with five points.<\/p>\n
Amateur champion Persib will battle for a final berth against
\nGroup A runner-up Barito Putra. The other semifinal match will
\npit amateur Petrokimia against Group A winner Pupuk Kaltim.<\/p>\n
Pupuk Kaltim rode its luck as it was granted the top spot of
\nthe Group A after league organizers tossed a coin yesterday. Both
\nPupuk Kaltim and Barito Putra finished the group matches with
\nexactly the same points and goal difference.<\/p>\n
Yesterday's tense, full-action matches, however, were
\ntarnished by a foul committed by Medan's goalkeeper Abdi Kusno.
\nReferee Widiyanto Nugroho red card him early in the match, the
\nfirst red card flashed during the quarterfinals.<\/p>\n
Abdi, who scrambled to defend his goal from the onset, had no
\nchoice but to fell hard running Widodo in the 10th minute. The
\ngoalie received his marching orders after Widiyanto saw him grab
\nthe ball outside the penalty box following the collision.<\/p>\n
Coach Rayo Usman put substitute goalkeeper Syahril Nasution in
\nand pulled striker Nasib Rayadi in an apparent effort to
\nstrengthen the defense.<\/p>\n
Weakened<\/p>\n
But a weakened Medan side, which had been put out of
\ncontention for the semifinals by two losses, failed to thwart
\nPetrokimia's goal-thirsty strikers led by Brazilian Jackson
\nTiago.<\/p>\n
Widodo put his team 1-0 up after 24 minutes with a close-range
\nshot. The striker was again on target two minutes after the break
\nwhen he touched a cross from Tiago and pushed it past Syahril.<\/p>\n
Tiago, who shrugged off a nagging foot injury throughout the
\nmatch, finally found the net nine minutes before time. He
\nprofited from Widodo's cross with a devastating first-timer.<\/p>\n
Earlier in the first game of the day, a determined Persib side
\ndisplayed one of its best attacking games to out slug Assyabaab
\nwhich needed only a draw to book a semifinal ticket.<\/p>\n
It took Persib only four minutes to score when Kekey Zakaria
\nheaded home a pass from Yudi Guntara. Sutiono, top scorer in
\nPersib's triumphant campaign in last year's amateur championship,
\nput his team 2-0 ahead in a solo run in the 24th minute.<\/p>\n
Persib renewed the pressure in the second half despite their
\ncommanding 2-0 lead. In the 75th minute, Yudi, a real threat to
\nAssyabaab's right flank, sent a straight pass to Sutiono who
\nfound no challenge in firing the ball into the net. (amd)<\/p>\n
Final Group standings (tabulated under played, won, drawn, lost,
\ngoals for, goals against, points):<\/p>\n
Group A
\n Pupuk Kaltim 3 1 2 0 3 2 5
\n Barito Putra 3 1 2 0 3 2 5
\n Bandung Raya 3 1 1 1 4 3 4
\n Pelita Jaya 3 0 1 2 2 5 1<\/p>\n
Group B
\n Persib 3 2 1 0 5 1 7
\n Petrokimia 3 1 2 0 5 2 5
\n Assyabaab 3 1 1 1 4 6 4
\n Medan Jaya 3 0 0 3 2 7 0<\/p>",
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