Persebaya wins soccer league title

Persebaya wins soccer league title

JAKARTA (JP): Persebaya Surabaya shattered the hopes of
defending champion Bandung Raya by grabbing the title with a
deserved 3-1 victory in the national soccer league final at
Senayan stadium yesterday.

In front of 70,000 spectators, the final was a tough showdown
with both teams mounting strong attacks throughout the game.

In the first half, Persebaya strikers Brazilian Jacksen F
Santiago and Chairil Anwar began the attacks, troubling Bandung
Raya defenders Nur'alim and Budiman.

Twice Persebaya's strikers nearly scored in the first half. In
the 23rd minute Persebaya defender Carlos De Melo raced through
unchallenged before being stopped by Bandung Raya defenders, who
several times diverted dangerous shots at the penalty box.

But Bandung Raya was quick to fight back in the 38th minute
when Dahiru Ibrahim almost scored after taking a pass from
Nuraliam and breezing through Persebaya's defense area.

Persebaya goalkeeper was the hero with a series of stunning
saves.

In the second half, Persebaya intensified attacks and went up
1-0 through a powerful penalty shot by defender Aji Santoso in
the 62nd minute.

Upset by the penalty, Bandung Raya struggled to level the
score by mounting a series of counterattacks in the second half.

Persebaya showed impressive teamwork when striker Santiago got
a pass from Carlos and sent a powerful shot to the net, causing
Bandung Raya to trail 0-2.

The match heated up when goalkeeper Agus failed to drive away
the ball after Korean Kim Young Joo awarded Bandung Raya a free
kick in the penalty area. Bandung Raya scored 1-2.

The game almost drew to a tie when Bandung Raya's Nuraliam
lobbed the ball into the defense area.

Persebaya's Reinold Piters surprisingly broke through Bandung
Raya's defense and brought the score to 3-1.

Jacksen was awarded the Adidas Golden Shoe as a top scorer.

Brazilian Jacksen F. Santiago went unchallenged for the 27
goals he scored in this year's championship.

He is the first foreign player to play in three consecutive
national soccer championships.

"I tried to go all-out to make my club the winner," he said
after the match.

With his creative passing, Santiago and compatriot Carlos were
dangerous players for the rival team.

Persebaya coach Rusdy Bahalwan said he had anticipated that
Bandung Raya players would single out Jacksen.

"Persebaya even had a chance to find a gap in Bandung Raya's
defense once some players concentrated on Jacksen," he said
commenting on his team's victory.

As winner, Persebaya takes home the President's Cup, 30 gold
medals and a Rp 75 million prize.

Mitra Surabaya, which lost in the semifinals, was named the
best team and Bandung Raya's Nur'alim was named best player and
was awarded the Adidas Golden Ball. (03)