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