Surabaya, Jakarta to semifinals

Surabaya, Jakarta to semifinals
JP/10/SENAYA
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Surabaya and

Jakarta on

to semifinals

JAKARTA (JP): Star striker Agus Winarno's two goals secured
Persebaya Surabaya's place in the championship semifinals at the
interest of last meet's runner-up PSMS Medan yesterday.

Surabaya, whose world veered towards a nightmare after a 1-0
upset loss to host Jakarta, topped the Group L standings with
four points and a better goal difference over Jakarta, which held
underdog Persegres Gresik 1-1 in a red card and penalty-filled
match yesterday.

Jakarta's celebration, however, was tarnished as referee
Widiyanto Nugroho showed a questionable red card -- the first in
the finals -- to Safrudin after the defenseman committed a hand-
ball within the penalty area.

In tomorrow's cross over semifinals, 1988 winner Surabaya will
face Group K runner-up Ujungpandang, while Jakarta faces top gun
Persib Bandung, the Group K leader.

The Margono Asnan-led Surabaya squad got off to a shaky start,
allowing Medan's front three of Suharto, Mayadi Rakasiwi and
Erwin Daud to make their back line look like a war zone.

Only after several second half replacements could the East
Javanese turn on the pressure. In-form Agus scored his first goal
five minutes after the break when winger Dodik Suprayogi sent a
clever cross past goalkeeper Sugiar. Agus was within inches of
another tally just a minute later when he eased past Medan's
defensemen with only Sugiar left to beat. Agus, however, fired
wide of the near post.

Medan quickly regrouped and fought back, with a few real
chances through striker Suharto and hard working winger Edwin
Daud, with overlapping defenseman Syafril is support. The left
back fired a cannon ball from a few meters outside Surabaya's
penalty area in the 70th minute to level the tie as goalkeeper
Riono, who looked as if he was anticipating a far-post cross, was
hopelessly out of position.

Dodik produced an excellent performance in attack as he
inspired a number of goal threats, but both Agus and left winger
Wenedy failed at the final touch.

Agus found the net to assure his side of a place among the
last four after he ran unmarked to drive Dodik's pass seven
minutes from the final whistle.

Surabaya players took a totally defensive stand in the last
minutes. They threw the ball out of the pitch to evade any melee
in their goalmouth.

Penalty

The 50,000 who watched the other decisive Group L match saw
Gresik try to play the spoiler with a series of well-arranged
bottom-up attack.

Gresik, which dominated the midfield and organized a firm
defense, went 1-0 ahead as striker Zainul Arifin converted an
unbeatable penalty in the 37th minute. Referee Widiyanto awarded
the penalty due to Safrudin's hand-ball.

Jakarta accepted its turn when Widiyanto gave it a decisive
penalty, following a foul committed by Dwi Risdianto against
Iskandar five minutes into the interval. Despite a strong protest
lodged by the Gresik players, Jakarta captain Patar Tambunan
calmly slotted the ball to give his side an equalizer.

The decision aroused the public's disappointment and several
disgruntled fans hurled plastic bottles at the referee as he left
the field. (amd)

Standings (tabulate under played, won, drawn, lost, goals for,
against, points)

Group K

Persib Bandung 3 2 1 0 5-1 5
PSM Ujungpandang 3 1 2 0 2-1 4
PSIR Rembang 3 1 0 2 5-4 2
Persiraja B Aceh 3 0 1 2 2-8 1

Group L

Persebaya Surabaya 3 2 0 1 4-2 4
Persija Jakarta 3 1 2 0 2-1 4
PSMS Medan 3 1 1 1 4-4 3
Persegres Gresik 3 0 1 2 3-6 1

Top scorers

4 - Agus Winarno (Persebaya)
3 - Sutiono (Persib), Fritz Rudolf Padwa (PSIR)