Sampdoria puts on show
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.