Persipura win national league

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.