Bandung Raya scalps Pelita Jaya
JAKARTA (JP): Two first-half goals from Perry Sandria and Tibidi Alexis boosted Bandung Raya's chances of winning the Indonesian soccer league championship when it stunned favorite Pelita Jaya 2-0 in their Group A quarterfinal match yesterday.
Goal machine Perry struck his 34th goal of the season in the 11th minute to put his team 1-0 ahead. Cameroon's Alexis sealed Pelita's fate and settled the issue beyond doubt with a brilliant chip following a solo run a few seconds before the first half went into injury time.
With Pupuk Kaltim and Barito Putra fighting to a scoreless draw in the other match yesterday, Bandung now holds the sole lead in the group with four points and just needs a draw to qualify for the semifinals on Friday.
For pre-tournament favorite Pelita, which lost 1-3 to the Bandung side in their league tie two weeks ago, the upset defeat put it in a difficult position as it has only collected one point after two outings following a 1-1 draw with Pupuk Kaltim on Wednesday.
An attack-minded Pelita pressed on the offensive from the first whistle, but its star forwards Roger Milla, Buyung Ismu and Ansyari Lubis failed to perform up to expectations as they were closely marked by Bandung's cool-headed defenders led by Cameroon's Olinga Atananga.
Bandung played a more efficient and effective game, concentrating more on defense. But it was dangerous on the break with numerous breakaway raids that put Pelita's defense in shambles.
Hard-running Perry drew first blood with a fine header off a well-directed cross following a goal-mouth scramble. A shabby defense proved costly for the Jakarta side when unmarked Alexis dribbled his way past defender Pasek Wijaya before slotting the ball home.
The second half followed much the same pattern as the first with Pelita gaining the upper hand but failing to find the net due to poor finishing touches and Bandung's dogged defense.
Pelita kept Bandung's goalkeeper Hermansyah busy throughout the second half, but the veteran custodian played an outstanding role under the bar as he pulled off a series of breath-taking saves.
Atananga denied Buyung his 31st goal 10 minutes before time when he kicked the ball off the line, after Hermansyah had failed to thwart a close-range shot by the Pelita striker.
A minute later, substitute Budiman Yunus came within a whisker of making it 3-0 for Bandung when his heavy right-footer was tipped off by Listyanto Raharjo.
In today's Group B matches, Assyabaab Surabaya will meet Petrokimia Putra and Persib Bandung plays Medan Jaya. (bas/amd)