Sampdoria puts on show for local soccer fanatics
By Dan Murphy
JAKARTA (JP): A relaxed Sampdoria strode onto the pitch at Senayan yesterday with visions dancing in their heads, perhaps, of the white sands and tropical delights of Bali and the prospect of an easy match to spice up their vacation.
A strike in minute five from Rocky Putiray however, who pounced on a rebound for the red and white of Liga Selection, served to clear the cobwebs from the Italian giant's heads.
The Indonesia select squad took advantage of a goal-minded Sampdoria defense with a long ball, and the Assyabaab Surabaya winger was left with a relatively easy finish that had the crowd of 110,000 roaring with the voice of one.
The supporters, described by a bemused policeman as "hysterical" soccer fans, did not have to wait long for an answer from the Italians, who came storming back with an intensity that had the Indonesian ten bunched into their own end of the field.
A number of near misses -- a header just over the bar, a strike rattling from the woodwork and a strong diving save on an eight yard shot from Sampdoria's Indonesian import, Kurniawan Dwi Yulianto -- were signs that the siege would not take long to find a breach.
A dead-ball just outside the top of the box in the 19th minute resulted in a tally from the 18 year old Kurniawan, who made a strong showing as he tried to fill the shoes of the Milan-bound Ruud Gullit. The free kick was struck with characteristic authority by Attilio Lombardo, but should have been swallowed up by the Liga keeper.
Minutes later, Sampdoria went up for good. One of the few attacking moments for the home side broke down, and it was immediately clear that the one-touch football of Sampdoria would make a meal of the stretched Indonesians.
The ball came up quickly, and the space created in Liga's half was all that England International David Platt needed to send an incisive through ball to Lombardo, who shrugged off his marker and finished from just off the right post.
Once Sampdoria got in gear, they gave the impression they could score at will; a Platt solo run at the end of the first half from 15 yards outside the box, where he beat three defenders, had an air of inevitability about it from the start.
This is not to say that Liga played badly. Perhaps overwhelmed psychologically by the quality of their opponent in the first half, they overcame their deficit in skill with determination in the second. Listlessly
Although wholesale substitutions were made by Sampdoria, they played listlessly, understandable given that it was a friendly. Liga managed to look dangerous a few times, and earned a point when sloppy defending resulted in a Sampdoria own goal while the pressure was on to make it 3-2.
The day before, Sampdoria's light workout was attended by 1,000 fans who scaled the walls of the stadium and practically assaulted the stars Platt and Lombardo with joy at their presence. Afterwards, Sampdoria played a one-touch game on half of the field that was beautiful to watch and highlighted the advantages of the Italian side.
The fundamentals they worked on materialized on the field and kept them one or two steps ahead of Liga for most of the match.
A real bright spot for Indonesia was Kurniawan, who while still very young and a second stringer, displayed talent and poise throughout the first half. If his slight frame fills out to match his speed and head for the game, very big things are likely to come.