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)