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)