Bandung wastes home advantage in Cup tie

BANDUNG (JP): Mastrans Bandung Raya (MBR) wasted its home advantage when it scored a 1-1 draw in its Asia Winners Cup second leg match against Hong Kong Cup winner South China.

Alexander Saununu put the Bandung side ahead in the 26th minute with a lethal finish for a brilliant cross from Adjat Sudradjat, who had earlier beaten off three South China defenders.

The visitors scored the crucial equalizer 15 minutes from time through Au Wai Lun in a counter attack. As Mastrans was too busy to check Brazilian substitute Leslie George Santos in the quick- paced second half, Au came into the box without much notice from home defenders.

South Korean referee Kim Young-joo flashed yellow cards at South China's Yau Kin Wai, Dale Michael, Chan Chi Hong, Shum Kwok Pui and MBR's Sudirman in the course of this fierce match.

Mastrans' coach Henk Wullem attributed his side's disappointing showing to the absence of Cameroon's Olinga Atangana, out for receiving two yellow cards in the first leg, and the bad form of midfielder Rehmalem Perangin-angin.

The Bandung side received a new headache with its away match on Sept. 29, as Mastrans will be hosting the Indonesian League championship's final 12 rounds from Sept. 26 to Oct. 2.

The All-Indonesia Football Association intervened, asking the Hong Kong side and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) to consider a delay.

But South China manager Leung Peter hinted yesterday that he could help Mastrans handle the problem. "But I have to talk to the team's officials, the sponsors and the TV stations airing the match live," he said.

Nugraha Besoes, secretary-general of the Indonesian soccer body, said that the association would provide a plane for the Bandung players to fly to Hong Kong on Sept. 29 if their request to postpone the match fails to get the nod from the AFC.

He said that a delay of the league's competition was unlikely. (17/yan)