Indocement Cirebon wins fourth HBIX Cup

Indocement Cirebon wins fourth HBIX Cup

YOGYAKARTA (JP): Indocement Cirebon surprisingly won the
fourth Sultan Hamengkubuwono IX Cup after defeating Gelora Dewata
of Bali 2-1 at Mandala Krida Stadium on Sunday.

Defending champion and host PSIM had to be satisfied with
coming third after winning 3-2 against fifth Indonesian Soccer
League (Ligina) runner-up Persebaya Surabaya.

Although Indocement was undefeatable in the one-week
tournament here, coach Sinyo Aliandoe said the club should
improve its performance if it wanted to compete in the sixth
Ligina, scheduled to begin on Nov. 7.

"Our strikers should vary their attacks," said the former
national coach.

Indocement had to play hard to control the game after Gelora's
striker Adhari scored the first goal in the second minute of the
first half.

Ten minutes later, Indocement's Brazilian striker Jaldesi
Jesus Dos Santos equalized with a free kick from the right side
of the goalpost.

The score was tied until the end of the game. But luck was on
Indocement's side in added time after defender Hendriawan
volleyed a feed from Dos Santos in the 104th minute which
Gelora's goalie Sutrisno Herlambang failed to stop.

Gelora was apparently disappointed with the devastating
result. Gelora's coach, Freddy Muli, accused referee Suharto of
Yogyakarta of being unfair.

The third-place match was monotonous as PSIM had lost its
fighting spirit and failed to score goals despite having the
opportunity, while Persebaya failed to display a solid defense.

PSIM scored three goals through striker Agus Warsito in the
14th minute, midfielder Wahyudianto in the 22nd and striker
Cornelis Mamesah in the 23th. Persebaya retaliated through its
duo strikers Ronald Pietersz in the 52nd minute and Brazilian
Gomes De Olivera in the 67th.

Persebaya's coach Riono Asnan refused to comment on his team's
performance. "I won't comment on my players' performance, if you
wand to write that Persebaya was not playing seriously, go
ahead," he told The Jakarta Post.

PSIM's coach, Bambang Prasetyo, said he was satisfied with his
players' performance against giant Persebaya. "I'm surprise that
my players could earn three goals. We would've considered
ourselves lucky just to tie with Persebaya. I even ask my players
whether this match is real or only a dream," he said. (44)