PKT to challenge PSM in final

PKT to challenge PSM in final

JAKARTA (JP): Pupuk Kaltim (PKT) of Bontang and PSM Makassar
won their hard-fought semifinals of the Bank Mandiri Indonesian
soccer league championship on Thursday, setting up a final
between eastern conference teams.

PKT, a club owned by a state-owned fertilizer company, booked
its final berth after winning a penalty shoot-out against
Persikota Tangerang 4-3 in the second semifinal. Both played a
goalless draw after an extra 30 minutes in a match which saw the
two teams lacking spirit and determination.

In the earlier semifinal, Miro Baldo Bento slammed a 16th
minute winner that beat his former team Persija Jakarta in a
match between the tournament's hottest favorites.

No matter which team will lift the coveted President Cup
trophy on Sunday, the league will see a new champion. Both South
Sulawesi-based PSM and East Kalimantan-based PKT have never won
the title since the inception of the professional league in 1995.

PSM beat PKT 3-0 at home and lost 0-1 away in the regular
season.

The semifinal was marred by a minor incident when supporters
of PSM, Persikota and Persija were involved in mass brawls at the
Senayan Stadium, the venue of Thursday's matches. There was no
report of injuries.

Another incident broke outside the stadium, just in front of
the Soccer Association of Indonesia (PSSI) office. Police shot
tear gas to disperse the PSM and Persikota supporters.

PKT dominated its semifinal against Persikota, but missed a
hatful of goal scoring chances. It was Persikota, however, which
came closer to a win but the referee disallowed a header by
Saphou Lassy two minutes from the break. Saphou was found off-
side when he was flying for the ball.

In the second half, both teams intensified their attacks.
Saphou shot a well-angled strike that unfortunately fell into
goalie Sumardi's hand in the 70th minute. Persikota's goalie
Maulana also produced a saving dive to deny a shot from PKT's top
striker Marten Tao.

Persikota converted three penalties through Ritham Madubun,
Rekky Selfis Berger and Giman Nurjaman in the shoot-out, with
Saphou and Simamo A. Basile missing the chance.

Zulkifli was the only PKT player to miss the penalty, while
Fachry Husaini, Ardiansyah, Ponaryo and Ahmad Junaidi were on
target.

PKT assistant coach Soengkowo Soediharto said that the penalty
shootout was purposely planned.

"We know that we have good executors and a good goalkeeper who
could save our net."

While Persikota's coach Sutan Harhara expressed regret for the
result. "But this is soccer," he said.

Bento described his winner as "a deserving gift" for Persija
which he said had despised him when he played for the Jakarta
team last season.

"I made a good achievement when I was in Persija but they
neglected me. Persija preferred Widodo C. Putro and Rocky
Puttiray to me. But finally I found a savior, Nurdin Halid (PSM
organizer). We are well-treated and well-paid in PSM, so we are
motivated to win the title," he said.

Persija's Bulgarian coach Ivan Kolev blamed the loss on
internal problems.

"There is a problem in our defense sector, but when I coach
this team, I only work out with the available players. Persija
has already selected the players to be coached. But I can use it
as a reason for the loss," he said.

Persija's two strikers, Bambang Pamungkas and Widodo, failed
to combine a sharp attack on PSM's defense. When Bento scored the
winner, it was almost too late for Persija to cover the loophole
in its defense.

PSM's assistant coach Syamsuddin Umar said that his team
played with strategy.

"Earlier, we were surprised that Persija fielded two strikers
instead of one, and finally it added to three. We later use two
stopper to match Widodo in the midfield," he said.(ivy)