Mastrans and PSM set up league final showdown

Mastrans and PSM set up league final showdown

JAKARTA (JP): Mastrans Bandung Raya and PSM Ujungpandang
survived tough tests yesterday to set up a final showdown for the
Indonesian soccer league championship title.

A weakened Mastrans was forced to play extra time in its
semifinal match against Mitra Surabaya before winning the penalty
shoot-out 4-2. Earlier in the day, PSM overturned a 1-3 deficit
to beat Persipura Jayapura 4-3.

Mass brawls and vandalism erupted outside the stadium
following Mastrans' victory, despite the presence of some 1,200
security officers deployed to maintain order during the high-
tempered matches.

At least two people, identified as Alex and Malata, were
seriously wounded and dozens of cars were smashed during the
disturbances. Three buses were also destroyed, as passengers and
bus crew were taken by surprise by flying rocks.

While both PSM and Persipura delighted the crowd in the half-
filled Senayan stadium, Mastrans and Mitra failed to live up to
their billings as the country's leading teams.

Mastrans, playing without the league's top scorer Dejan
Glusevic, relied on the herculean efforts of its lone striker
Peri Sandria, but to no avail thanks in part to brilliant dives
from Mitra's stubborn goalkeeper Hendro Kartiko.

Peri, last year's top scorer who now needs six goals to beat
Glusevic's benchmark of 30, wasted numerous golden chances,
including one a few seconds after the break. The 29-year-old
national player had only Hendro to beat, but his volley coasted
an inch past the left post.

Mitra's two Brazilians, Carlos de Mello and Gomez de Oliviera,
dealt their own side a deadly blow as their powerless shots were
denied by Hermansyah during the penalty shoot-out.

All Mastrans' penalty takers, Adnan Mukmin, Hendriawan,
Alexander Saununu and Nur Alim, were on target. Mitra scored
through Marzuki Badriawan and Andri Priyanto.

In the first semifinal, a trio of Brazilians inspired PSM to a
superb comeback. The Eastern Conference league winner, trailed 1-
3 with 17 minutes remaining in its rematch against Persipura. But
ceaseless pressure paid off for PSM as substitute Arif Kamaruddin
and Brazilian defender Marcio Novo scored a goal each in a two-
minute spell to bring the team back into the match.

Rachman Usman sealed Persipura's fate four minutes from time
in conjunction with his striking partner, Brazil's Jacksen Tiago.
Both forwards broke away in an assault built up from the back.
With only a defender left in the box, Rachman slammed in a cross-
shot that beat Persipura's stranded goalkeeper Helcony.

Brazilian striker Luciano Leandro, who scored the winner in
PSM's 1-0 victory over Persipura in their final-12 group match
last week, posed a persistent danger to the Irianese defense, but
lacked sufficient composure to convert a number of chances into
goals.

He joined the goal bonanza midway into the first half, scoring
from the penalty spot to level the tie at 1-1 after Alfred
Repasi's shocking 12th minute goal for Persipura.

A shaky defense marshaled by Novo handed PSM a second blow in
the 37th minute when captain Robby Wabia latched onto a through
pass from Eduard Ivakdalam with a right-footer from close range.

A spirited Persipura looked certain to book a final berth when
Ivakdalam put the country's easternmost team two goals up five
minutes after the break. But the Irianese slowed the pace,
playing mostly in their own half to let PSM strike back. (bsr/amd)