Assyabaab goes top after crushing PSM

Assyabaab goes top after crushing PSM

JAKARTA (JP): Surabaya's Assyabaab chalked up its second
consecutive win in the Indonesian Soccer League competition by
trouncing Ujungpandang's PSM 2-0 on Wednesday.

The win, which was picked up on its home soil at the Gelora
November 10 Stadium, sent the Surabaya club to the top of the
East Division standings with six points after two outings. On
Sunday, the opening day of league competition, Assyabaab beat
Yogyakarta's PSIM 3-1.

PSM, the 1992 intercity amateur champion, suffered its second
straight loss in as many matches, having gone down 0-1 to another
Surabaya-based club, Persebaya on Sunday.

Played on a rain-soaked pitch, Assyabaab dominated the match
territorially, constantly putting PSM's defense in shambles.

The home side drew first blood in the 29th minute when
Budiarso headed home a fine cross from Ali Sunan, leaving goalie
Herman Kardiaman clutching the empty air as the ball went past
him and into the net.

Asyabaab continued to press on the offensive in the second
half and put the issue beyond any doubt when it scored another
goal in the 61st minute.

Hard-running middlefielder Putut Widjarnako latched on to a
fine pass from Budiarso before hammering home a knee-high right
footer from some 15 meters out that, once again, had Herman
stranded on his line.

In Wednesday' other East Division matches PSIM and Semarang's
PSIS fought out a goaless draw in Yogyakarta, host Gresik's
Persegres beat Jayapura's Persipura 1-0, host Denpasar's Gelora
Dewata defeated Rembang's PSIR 2-0 and host Putra Samarinda drew
0-0 with Pupuk Kaltim.

A joyful celebration in the Mandala Krida stadium, Yogyakarta
PSIM fans turned sour when nine local supporters were seriously
injured, following a mass brawl against the security officers and
visitors.

It was the second riot at the same spot. PSIM was banned from
playing two home matches last year after its fanatical supporters
were involved in a mass brawl against their arch rivals in their
intercity amateur championship qualifier.

Meanwhile in Wednesday's West Division matches host Arseto
beat Bengkulu 3-1 in Surakarta, host Bandung Raya nipped
Jakarta's Warna Agung 2-1, Tangerang's Persita held Jakarta's
Persija to a 1-1 draw, Semen Padang defeated Kudus'Persiku 2-0
and Bandung's Persib edged Jakarta's Persijatim 2-1.

The competition, which brings together a total of 33 clubs
from throughout the country, divided into two divisions. It is
the first of its kind in Indonesia in that it features both city
amateur teams and semi-professional clubs formerly competing in
the now dissolved Galatama. (bas)

Results

Western Group
PSDS 2, PSMS 2
Persita 1, Persija 1
Persijatim 1, Persib 2
B. Raya 2, Warna Agung 1
Persiku 0, Semen Padang 2
Arseto 3, Bengkulu 1

Eastern Group
PSIM 0, PSIS 0
Persegres 1, Persipura 0
Assyabaab SGS 2, PSM 0
G. Dewata 2, PSIR 0
P. Samarinda 0, P. Kaltim 0