Bandung Raya scalps Pelita Jaya
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)