Persiraja extends winning streak
Persiraja extends winning streak
JAKARTA (JP): Persiraja Banda Aceh extended its unbeaten streak on Sunday with a 2-1 away win over Persija as the Indonesian soccer league resumed at Menteng stadium in Central Jakarta.
The hard-fought victory shot Persiraja to the top of the West Division standings, leapfrogging Pelita Jaya, which lies third after being on top throughout most the opening months of the league. Persiraja now has 24 points from 10 games and is two points ahead of Pelita Jaya.
Persiraja joins Persebaya Surabaya, both former amateur winners, as the only two unbeaten teams since the league kicked off on Nov. 27 last year.
Persebaya, third in the East Division, is poised to restore its pride after a 0-4 humiliation by Pelita Jaya last Friday in a fund-raising match before its home fans.
Persebaya and PSIM Yogyakarta were banned from hosting one match each following a riot involving their supporters on Jan. 29, which claimed a life.
Persib Bandung went ahead to the second spot despite its disappointing goalless draw against PSDS Deli Serdang at home. Persib, spurred by striker Yusuf Bachtiar, Hendra Komara, Nandang Kurnaedi and captain Robby Darwis, created many goal-scoring opportunities but PSDS's defense was too solid to be broken down.
Semi-professional champion Pelita Jaya, which enjoyed a warm- up 4-0 win in Surabaya on Friday, may regain control when it plays a derby against third-from-the-bottom Warna Agung at home base in Lebak Bulus.
In the league's East Division, midfielders Sutamto and the Hartono brothers, Jaya and Toyo, helped frontrunner Asyabaab Salim Group confirm its grip with three goals each in their 3-2 win over Arema Malang in a high-spirited match.
Arema, nicknamed "Crazy Lion", fought back after a 0-1 deficit in the first half with two goals from Micky Tata and Maryanto.
Barito Putra climbed to the second place, replacing Persebaya Surabaya, after defeating Putra Samarinda 1-0.
Meanwhile, PSIM Yogyakarta, which was forced to entertain PSM Ujungpandang in Pelita Jaya's home base, could only manage a scoreless draw in a dull battle on an empty pitch.
At Gresik, Petrokimia Putra Gresik upset Mitra Surabaya 1-0 (1-0) through a 24th minute goal by its import booter, Brazilian Jaksen Tiago, who capitalized on Zainal Arifin's pass.
In Kudus, Central Java, Persiku, though dominating the match, managed only to tie 1-1 with visiting Mataram Putra of Yogyakarta, in Wergu Wetan stadium on Sunday.
Mataram took the lead after Yance Metmey sent a header to Persiku's empty net in the 55th minute. Yance, however, received a marching order for his improper behavior. He took off his shirt and ran to the pitch's side in jubilation.
In Solo, Central Java, Arseto snatched a 3-0 home win over PSMS Medan which was reduced to ten men for the last 35 minutes before around 7,000 spectators at Sriwedari stadium on Sunday. Trailing 0-2 in the first half, PSMS Medan went chaotic and quickly resorted to violations.