PSIS ties 1-1 with PSIM

YOGYAKARTA (JP): PSIS of Semarang tied 1-1 with host PSIM Yogyakarta in Group A on Tuesday's opening day of the fourth Sultan Hamengku Buwono IX Cup at Mandala Krida Stadium.

Indocement Cirebon beat Persikab Bandung 2-1 in the second match in Group B. The cup is played on a round-robin basis.

PSIS, who will be defending champion in the upcoming fifth Indonesian League, managed to hold off the aggressive attacking of PSIM from the beginning of the match. The sultan, who is also governor of Yogyakarta, watched the match.

PSIM fell behind 0-1 in the 60th minute after PSIS striker Gusnul Yakin scored past goalie Ali Musa.

PSIM striker Gatot Ismawan tied the score by eluding PSIS's goalkeeper Djoko Darmanto with a shot to the left corner.

PSIM's aggressive play led PSIS to replace its goalie I Komang Putra with Djoko and defender M. Arif with Jhony Hermanto.

PSIM let a prime scoring opportunity slip in the 35th minute when striker Nurul Huda stepped up for a penalty. Komang displayed great form in punching away the ball past the right side of the net.

PSIS coach C. Sutaji complained that his team failed to develop its strategy and was careless in defense, enabling PSIM strikers to move the ball in the penalty area.

"We tried our best but in the first half we could not develop our play. In the second half, our efforts to improve on our strategy succeeded," he said.

PSIM coach Bambang Prasetyo said: "PSIS is more experienced but we have performed well in the past because we managed to contest the Ligina championship final."

In the second match, Persikab's striker Asep Dayat scored in the 11th minute. Indocement equaled thanks to Brazilian striker Jaldesir Jesus Dos Santos. He gave his team victory with another goal in the 72nd minute. (44)