Persib to play Petrokimia in national soccer league final
JAKARTA (JP): The long, grueling and tense competition pitting 34 soccer teams will climax in today's match at the Senayan stadium when Petrokimia Putra plays Persib Bandung for the President's Cup, the symbol of national league supremacy.
Performance-wise, both Petrokimia of Gresik, East Java, and Persib share an equal chance of winning the initial championship of the league which groups 34 teams from throughout the archipelago making it the biggest league ever in the world.
Petrokimia's trio of forwards, Widodo Cahyono Putra, Jacksen Tiago and Carlos de Mello, have proven they can serve as a real threat as soon as the opening whistle is blown. The tireless tandem have grown sharper since they spurred Petrokimia to win the Eastern Division.
The East Javanese rely heavily on quick raids which have given them a whopping 62 goals during the group round-robin tie. Widodo and company scored six goals since they arrived at Senayan and conceded just two goals, thanks to the magic of their Trinidad's goalkeeper Darryl Sinnerine.
Sinnerine was the hero in Friday's semifinal match against Pupuk Kaltim. His superb dives denied a number of goal scoring chances, before Widodo sealed the issue of the doubt with a 54th minute goal.
Persib, dubbed the most consistent squad, remains the representative of a team-work fanatic. Robby Darwis has successfully led a team which bows to strict discipline.
Finishing second in the Western Division, Persib played a series of lackluster games in the start, but managed to speed up its pace to burst into the top as the season came to an end. The amateur champion appeared to need quiet a long time before finding its form.
Persib players are also well-known for their self-confidence. A determined Persib, with thousands of partisans standing behind it, stole the show when it cruised into the semifinals with a thumping 3-0 win over Assyabaab Surabaya.
The West Javanese side, the only amateur team to qualify for the quarterfinals, appeared lethargic, however, when it tackled dark horse Barito Putra for a place in today's final.
Penalties
"We are well prepared for anything which could come, including a penalty shoot-out," Persib assistant manager Dede Rusli said yesterday, adding that such a decider could benefit Petrokimia, thanks to its stubborn goalkeeper.
"We will battle it out to win the match during regulation time," Rusli said.
Petrokimia gives no trace of fright even if the match should be settled through penalties. "We are lucky to posses well- trained shooters and a superb goalkeeper, but we opt to force a win as soon as possible," Petrokimia coach Andi Teguh said.
"Both Persib and Petrokimia are true soldiers who never feel tired before they complete their duties," Andi said. "The team which manages to maintain its composure will win tomorrow's final," he added. (amd)