Jakarta, West Java to clash in Coke final

Jakarta, West Java to clash in Coke final

SURABAYA, East Java (JP): Young West Java looks set to follow
in the winning steps of its senior team Persib Bandung as it
marches into the Haornas Coke Cup under-15 soccer championship
final after beating home favorite East Java 4-3 yesterday.

The West Javanese will play Jakarta, which ended South
Sulawesi's giant-killing run 4-3 in a penalty shoot-out in the
other semifinal. Both Jakarta and South Sulawesi wasted the
regulation 70 minutes in a goalless draw.

Hard-running striker Ronin scored two out of his hat trick to
put West Java 2-0 in the first half. The host team, playing to
frenetic fans, pulled back to equalize twice during the goal
spree before Suwarsa sealed its fate in the 68th minute.

Yudi Setiawan kept his never-say-die team's hopes alive with
his 69th-minute goal, his second of the match. But a superb
defense displayed by West Java kept East Java's up-front charges
at bay.

It was apparent that the two teams were well-prepared for
yesterday's semifinal. They fielded their tallest and biggest
footballers who played a high-speed match.

But as the game developed, it was evident that the West
Javanese were the better side. They dictated the first half,
thanks to their outstanding tactics and ingenuity of ball
possessions.

Playmaker Nurhasan Basri orchestrated West Java's bottom-up
charges, with Ronin waiting for the right moment for a final
touch. A well-knit partnership with Basri enabled Ronin to score
a hat trick.

Though winning the game, West Java was far from satisfied.
"The All-Indonesia Football Federation should have sent referees
from provinces other than East Java to ensure a fair decision,"
Akhmad, a West Java official, complained.

The annual tournament offers Rp 1 million (US$454) in cash for
the champion. The top scorer and best player receive Rp 500,000
each. (arf)