PSM loses to Dalian Shide in AFC Champions League

Andi Hajramurni, The Jakarta Post, Makassar

Last year's Indonesian League runner-up PSM Makassar was beaten 1-0 in front of 8,000 home fans, against Chinese champion Dalian Shide FC in their Asian Champions League match at Mattoangin Stadium here on Wednesday.

The match's only goal was scored just five minutes into the game by Ermin Silijak.

Silijak capitalized on a lapse by the PSM's defending markers, turning out only one defender up against him before dribbling the ball past goalkeeper Sergio Bernabe Vargas.

The defeat, which was the third on the trot, snapped PSM's hopes of advancing to the league's next round.

In its first match in Vietnam, PSM lost 5-1 to Hoang Anh Gia Lai. It hosted Krung Thai Bank of Thailand in the second match only to lose out 3-2.

Wednesday's result brought Dalian to strengthen its position as group leader with nine points, while PSM sank to the bottom of the table with no points.

PSM manager Kadir Khalid looked to provide some morale- boosting consolation, praising his players for "showing solid play and high morale", but he eventually admitted that their opponent was far better.

"Dalian is two levels above PSM. But we have to admit that it was PSM's best performance in the champions league," he said.

Dalian Shide's coach Shi Lei also praised his opponent, saying that the PSM attacks were quite tight and hard to break.

"PSM played well. It was a hard match, but thankfully we come out as the winner," he said.

The two teams will meet again in China on April 21, after which the Indonesians will have to try to win their first points at home when they host Vietnamese champion Hoang Anh Gia Lai on May 5.

Wednesday's results:

Al Shorta (Irq) 1 Al Hilal (Ksa) 2

Sepahan (Irn) 3 Al Ittihad (Ksa) 2

Chonbuk (Kor) 4 BEC Tero (Tha) 0

PSM (Ina) 0 Dalian (Chn) 1

Yokohama (Jpn) 1 Seongnam (Kor) 2

Binh Dinh (Vie) 2 Persik (Ina) 2