Persita keeps winning run over PSM

Multa Firdaus, Tangerang

After a 3-0 rout of Persipura last week, Persita continued its winning streak with a 3-1 victory over PSM in their Indonesian soccer league match, which was marred by scuffles on Thursday.

Ilham Kayakusuma scored a hat trick for the hosts at Benteng stadium as Persita moved up to sixth place with 27 points on the standings.

PSM, runner-up of last year's season, dropped to second place with 35 points. Persija, which trounced bottom-placed Deltra Sidoarjo 5-0 in Jakarta, took over the lead with 38 points.

In two other matches, Semen Padang trumped Persipura 4-1, while defending Persik, which has been nose-diving this season, scored a rare 2-0 win over Persijatim in Kediri.

At Benteng stadium, witnessed by a 15,000-strong home crowd, Ilham forced PSM goalkeeper Hernan Kaputo to concede a goal at the 11th minute.

Marcelo Ramos refused to sit back, and restored the visitors' hopes with an equalizer a minute before the break.

Five minutes into the second half, Ilham scored his second goal to put Persita back in front.

A commotion flared up at the 62nd minute when referee Agus Margunaji refused to award PSM a penalty kick after one of the Persita defenders brought down Ortisan Salossa.

Angered by the decision, Humberto Lobo aimed a punch at Agus. It was fortunate for Lobo that he escaped a red card. The referee appeared content to produce a yellow card.

Ten minutes later, the referee granted PSM a penalty kick, at which Persita players protesting, claiming that the foul took place outside the goal box.

Spectators began to throw projectiles onto the soccer field, causing five minutes of delay.

Ronald Faguandes marched forward to execute the penalty shoot, but kicked the ball too high.

Instead of leveling the score, PSM was punished further when Ilham completed his hat trick during injury time.

At the end of the game, one PSM players, followed by some team officials, chased Persita captain Giman Nurjaman.

Giman ran away and some spectators took to the field en mass, causing PSM players to seek the protection of security guards.