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)