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