Sampdoria puts on show
\nfor local soccer fanatics<\/p>\n
By Dan Murphy<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): A relaxed Sampdoria strode onto the pitch at
\nSenayan yesterday with visions dancing in their heads, perhaps,
\nof the white sands and tropical delights of Bali and the prospect
\nof an easy match to spice up their vacation.<\/p>\n
A strike in minute five from Rocky Putiray however, who
\npounced on a rebound for the red and white of Liga Selection,
\nserved to clear the cobwebs from the Italian giant's heads.<\/p>\n
The Indonesia select squad took advantage of a goal-minded
\nSampdoria defense with a long ball, and the Assyabaab Surabaya
\nwinger was left with a relatively easy finish that had the crowd
\nof 110,000 roaring with the voice of one.<\/p>\n
The supporters, described by a bemused policeman as
\n"hysterical" soccer fans, did not have to wait long for an answer
\nfrom the Italians, who came storming back with an intensity that
\nhad the Indonesian ten bunched into their own end of the field.<\/p>\n
A number of near misses -- a header just over the bar, a
\nstrike rattling from the woodwork and a strong diving save on an
\neight yard shot from Sampdoria's Indonesian import, Kurniawan Dwi
\nYulianto -- were signs that the siege would not take long to find
\na breach.<\/p>\n
A dead-ball just outside the top of the box in the 19th minute
\nresulted in a tally from the 18 year old Kurniawan, who made a
\nstrong showing as he tried to fill the shoes of the Milan-bound
\nRuud Gullit. The free kick was struck with characteristic
\nauthority by Attilio Lombardo, but should have been swallowed up
\nby the Liga keeper.<\/p>\n
Minutes later, Sampdoria went up for good. One of the few
\nattacking moments for the home side broke down, and it was
\nimmediately clear that the one-touch football of Sampdoria would
\nmake a meal of the stretched Indonesians.<\/p>\n
The ball came up quickly, and the space created in Liga's half
\nwas all that England International David Platt needed to send an
\nincisive through ball to Lombardo, who shrugged off his marker
\nand finished from just off the right post.<\/p>\n
Once Sampdoria got in gear, they gave the impression they
\ncould score at will; a Platt solo run at the end of the first
\nhalf from 15 yards outside the box, where he beat three
\ndefenders, had an air of inevitability about it from the start.<\/p>\n
This is not to say that Liga played badly. Perhaps overwhelmed
\npsychologically by the quality of their opponent in the first
\nhalf, they overcame their deficit in skill with determination in
\nthe second.
\nListlessly<\/p>\n
Although wholesale substitutions were made by Sampdoria, they
\nplayed listlessly, understandable given that it was a friendly.
\nLiga managed to look dangerous a few times, and earned a point
\nwhen sloppy defending resulted in a Sampdoria own goal while the
\npressure was on to make it 3-2.<\/p>\n
The day before, Sampdoria's light workout was attended by
\n1,000 fans who scaled the walls of the stadium and practically
\nassaulted the stars Platt and Lombardo with joy at their
\npresence. Afterwards, Sampdoria played a one-touch game on half
\nof the field that was beautiful to watch and highlighted the
\nadvantages of the Italian side.<\/p>\n
The fundamentals they worked on materialized on the field and
\nkept them one or two steps ahead of Liga for most of the match.<\/p>\n
A real bright spot for Indonesia was Kurniawan, who while
\nstill very young and a second stringer, displayed talent and
\npoise throughout the first half. If his slight frame fills out to
\nmatch his speed and head for the game, very big things are likely
\nto come.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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