Persipura win national league

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Persipura Jayapura clinched the Indonesian soccer league for the first time in more than two decades after defeating Persija Jakarta 3-2 in the final at the Bung Karno stadium here on Sunday.

The match had to be decided in extra time after the two teams were deadlocked at 2-2 after injury time. Ian Kabes sealed Persipura's victory with his goal eleven minutes into extra time.

Persipura and Persija advanced to the final after topping the four-team East and West Groups.

But Persija's march was tainted by the pullout of last year's champions who refused to play their final group match citing partiality in the officiating of the match.

The win gave Persipura Rp 1 billion in prize money, while second place-getters Persija got half that amount.

Earlier in the day, PSIS Semarang defeated PSMS Medan 2-1 to take third place and a check of Rp 250 million.

During the final, the 100,000 capacity Bung Karno Stadium was packed with spectators, most of them rooting for the home team.

Persija went in front early on through Agus Indra, who connected with an assist from Fatecha in the first 10 minutes.

Promising future star of Indonesian soccer Boaz Salossa equalized in the 17th minute, after being fed a neat pass from Cristian Warobay, who was later declared the league's best player.

Francis Mewengkang came off the bench for an injured Agus Indra in the second half. He duly paid back the coach's trust with a goal 10 minutes into the second half to retrieve Persija's lead.

Less than 10 minutes before the second half ended, Persipura, which last won the trophy in 1980, struck back, courtesy of Korinus Fringkeow, to force play into extra time.

Jayapura's Kabes will long be remembered for his header inside the penalty box following a corner by skipper Eduard Ivakdalam.

The defeat saw scores of bitter Persija supporters running amok, setting part of the stand on fire during the awarding ceremony. Security forces, part of a contingent of 3,000 police and soldiers, deployed at the grounds, were quick to act to contain the danger.

Outside the stadium, three vehicles, one of which was a police van, were damaged and two stationery buses had their windscreens smashed, while rocks were scattered inside the grounds.