Persib knocked out of Asian club championship
Persib knocked out of Asian club championship
BANDUNG, West Java (JP): Persib Bandung's dream of joining Asia's best when it crashed 2-5 to favorite Ilhwa Chunma of South Korea in the Asian club championship quarterfinal league yesterday.
Playing before 20,000 fanatic fans, the West Javanese took the early initiative as they did in Sunday's opener, when Yudi Guntara scored from a close range only five minutes after the opening whistle.
But Persib lacked the steam to match South Korea's speedy attacking game which resulted in a goal spree. Yugoslavian Ljubisa Rancovic struck twice in the 74th and 85th minutes as Ilhwa thumped Persib with three goals within 11 minutes in the last quarter of the match.
The loss kicked winless Persib out of the contention for the two semifinal places offered in the Group East. The Indonesian champion will play its last match against Cup holder Thai Farmers tomorrow.
Earlier on the day, the Thais grafted a goalless draw with Japanese league champion Verdy Kawasaki in a spiritless match. It was the second equal ending for the defending champion which now needs a big win if it is to advance to the semifinals.
Ilhwa and Verdy collected four points after a win and a draw respectively, but the South Koreans top the table on goal difference. Both teams will need only a draw to qualify for the semifinals.
The South Koreans exploited their height advantage, pressing Persib on its own half through a number of long passes that dazed the spirited host team.
Sin Tae-yoong helped Ilhwa pull ahead in the 19th minute, just five minutes after Han Jung-kuk's equalizer. The South Koreans sped up the pace after the break. But they allow Persib to level the tie through a penalty converted Asep Kustiana, following a handball in the penalty box.
"Our defeat clearly shows that Indonesia is not in the same league as Asian powerhouses," Persib coach Indra Tohir said. "But we are not willing to finish at the bottom of the table," he added.
Rare attacks
Attacks were rare during the match between Verdy and the Farmers. The teams let the ball hover around the middle of the newly laid field.
Farmers had more goal scoring chances than Verdy, which played without ace player Kazuyoshi Miura. The Thais, spearheaded by Thawan Thamniyai and Suchat Phongriroj, took the initiative from the beginning.
Verdy, which secured three points from its 3-2 win over Persib on Sunday, was a closed door, thanks to goalie Takaya Oishi's superb dives.
The Thai club had its biggest chance to break the tie after 50 minutes when hard-running striker Thawan slotted a cross to unmarked Worawoot Srimaka. Oishi's dive saved the Japanese. A confident Oishi denied another attempt from Worawoot 15 minutes later.
The Japanese side replied with a few breakaways, but to no avail.
Verdy's Brazilian player, Sergio Henrique Bernardes, posed as a springboard for Kei Hoshikawa, Takanori Nanube and Shingi Ono. But Jatuporn, Sujja Sirikeat and Wanchai Prateepsukpkorn tagged the three Japanese, keeping them out.
Farmer coach Chanvit Polchivin said he was satisfied with the outcome. "We had a lot of golden opportunities, but we could not convert them into goals," he said.
Verdy coach Rubens Fantato Filho, on the other hand, was frustrated. "We could have won this match," he said. Filho said his men would apply more pressure in tomorrow's last match against South Korean champion FC Ilhwa Chunma. (pet/arf)
Standings (tabulated under played, won, drawn, lost, goals for, goals against and points):
Ilhwa Chunma 2 1 1 0 6-3 4 Verdy Kawasaki 2 1 1 0 3-2 4 Thai Farmers 2 0 2 0 1-1 2 Persib Bandung 2 0 0 2 3-8 0