Persija ties 0-0 with Indocement

SEMARANG (JP): Persija Jakarta tied 0-0 with Indocement Cirebon in an expulsion match of the sixth Indonesian Soccer League (Ligina) at Jatidiri Stadium here. No spectators were allowed to watch the match.

Persija, who was backboned by national young striker Bambang Pamungkas and his senior, Widodo C. Putro, was in poor form and could not earn any goals. Bambang could not make use of the cross pass from Widodo to kick a goal for his new team.

"This is a failure for our team. It's the poorest result during our participation in the competition," Ivan Kolev, Persija's Bulgarian coach, told The Jakarta Post after the match.

Indocement could not fight back as Persija's defense was too tough to penetrate. "We are satisfied with the result. All players heeded my orders," said Indocement coach Errens Pahelerang.

The Soccer Association of Indonesia (PSSI) has banned Indocement from staging the match at Bima Stadium in Cirebon, West Java, due to its violent supporters. (har)