Arema upsets favorite Persija in league quarters

Arema upsets favorite Persija in league quarters

JAKARTA (JP): Home favorite Persija was upset 1-2 by Arema of
Malang in Sunday's opening quarterfinals match followed by an
incident on the field between players from both teams. Both sides
also questioned referee Yulius Dede's judgment.

In the second match, Persikota Tangerang managed to create a
narrow 1-0 victory over Pelita Solo in a spiritless contest.

Pacho Rubio of Arema scored both goals in the 22th and 40th
minute of the first half. Persija's Imran Nahumarury managed to
narrow 1-2 after netting the ball in the 65th minute.

The incident, which halted the match for seven minutes, took
place after Persija's Brazilian midfielder Luciano Leandro
knocked down Arema's Chilean defender Pacho Rubio at center field
in the 68th minute.

Rubio's teammate Rodrigo F. Araya, who was annoyed by
Leandro's action, approached him and started to push him.
Leandro, who was irritated by Araya's provocative move, slapped
the Arema top midfielder on his face.

Officials and players from the two clubs immediately divided
them. After a brief review, Dede awarded a yellow card to Araya
and a red card to Leandro.

Bad-tempered Rubio claimed he was beaten by Leandro.

"Luciano hit me and stepped on me. He deserves the red card,"
he said. He also dismissed allegations of playing dirty to spark
Leandro's emotions.

But Rubio said he was emotional seeing the referee did not
sanction Nuralim of Persija after pushing him in the first half.
Moreover, the referee awarded him a yellow card when he pushed
another Persija player.

"After we lead 2-0, Persija seemed bewildered. You see, I
always earned a goal whenever I was in the penalty box. I don't
want to question the red card. It's the Soccer Association of
Indonesia's (PSSI) problem."

Leandro was not available for comment. But Persija's Bulgarian
coach Ivan Kolev said that Leandro should behave himself during
the match.

"Leandro should be fined. He can't beat people during a match.
He's not a rogue but a professional soccer player. And he came
here to play soccer, not to fight," he said after the match.

Kolev also expressed his regret because the referee failed to
stop the time and extend it after the incident. "The incident
took eight minutes and it was another five to six minutes to
exchange players. At least we lost 15 minutes," he said.

The opening match was not organized with good order. Hundreds
of Arema's supporters from Aremania and Pelita supporters from
Pasoepati split to the soccer field in the absence of security
officials.

In Makassar, South Sulawesi, host PSM Makassar fulfilled its
ambition to defeat PSMS Medan 1-0 thanks to top striker Kurniawan
Dwi Yulianto who scored the only goal at the Mattoangin stadium.

About 25,000 spectators in the stadium expressed their joy
with the goal which opens their team's way to reach the final
four.

In another match, Persijatim and Pupuk Kaltim (PKT) performed
monotonously for 90 minutes until referee Jajat Sudrajat blew the
whistle to end the scoreless match.

Dominating the first half, PSM -- backboned by national team
members including Aji Santoso, Bima Sakti and Kurniawan -- must
thank midfielder Carlos de Mello for supplying the ball to duo
strikers Miro Baldo Bento and Kurniawan, who managed to net the
ball in the 22nd minute.

PSMS coach Suimi Diharja set the offside trap which made PSM
sides, coached by Henk Wullems, unable to strike.

But in the second half, players from both teams seemed to lose
their stamina and fitness.

Kurniawan scored another goal in the 75th minute with his
scissors kick but referee Mansyur Lestaluhu annulled the goal.

PSMS's Jaime Rojas of Chile had a perfect chance to tie in the
80th minute with his hard kick but PSM goalkeeper Hendro Kartiko
performed outstandingly to dismiss the attack. (27/ivy)