Persib crushes Persiku to reach second place

Persib crushes Persiku to reach second place

JAKARTA (JP): Intercity amateur champion Persib of Bandung,
West Java took advantage of being on home turf to beat fellow
amateur club Persiku of Kudus, Central Java in Sunday's Liga
Dunhill Western Division soccer league and shot up to the second
spot of the table behind leader Pelita Jaya.

Persib took its season high ranking on a better goal
difference against Semen Padang. Both are tied at 16 points, six
points clear behind semi-professional champion Pelita Jaya.

Persib and Semen Padang will have two home matches apiece
tomorrow and this weekend before the league takes a month of rest
due to the fasting month which starts next week.

Playing before their 20,000 home fans, the West Javanese took
total control of the match but almost conceded a frustrating end
due to the strong defense of their rivals.

Persib broke the duck just 16 minutes from the final whistle
when substitute Dadang Kurnia executed a fine penalty which put
Persiku's goalkeeper Agus Setiawan on the wrong foot.

Referee Pracoyo pointed the white spot after defender Antok
Irmawan toppled Yusuf Bachtiar at the penalty box. Pracoyo also
showed a yellow card to Antok.

Captain Robby Darwis led his squad to keep up the charge, but
a solid team of Antok, Suwarto and Bambang Hartoyo managed a
number of brilliant clearances.

The referee also booked Persiku's Agus, Suwarto, Masudi and
Pangestu. Another yellow card was given to Persib's Asep Roni.

In the eastern Division, semiprofessional side Assyabaab SGS
of Surabaya, East Java stays atop despite a 1-1 away draw at
Rembang on Sunday. Assyabaab has collected 23 points from 11
matches, four points ahead of fellow East Javanese Arema Malang
which also earned a 1-1 draw in its away match against Putra
Samarinda, East Kalimantan.

Assyabaab is expecting to extend its lead when it hosts Barito
Putra of Samarinda on Thursday. (amd)