Tear gas disrupts local soccer match
JAKARTA (JP): Tear gas, which security officials have denied firing, stopped the semifinal national league soccer match between Bandung Raya and Mitra Surabaya when the Bandung-based team took a 1-0 lead yesterday.
The tear gas was released in Bandung Raya's defense area when I Putu Gede, Kuncoro and Tibidi Alexis of Mitra Surabya were ready to level the score at 68 minutes of the second half.
Officials decided to stopped the match after several players needed emergency treatment. Two players were later taken to hospital for further treatment
The All-Indonesia Football Federation's secretary-general, Nugraha Besoes, said the match would continue today for the remaining 28 minutes that was left in yesterday's match.
"The final decision, however, will be taken after listening two team's managers suggestion based on footballers' health," he said.
It has not been discovered who fired the tear gas.
In the first half, Alexis and Putu several times failed to pass through the solid defense of the Bandung Raya team led by its leading defenders Olinga Atangana, Nur'alim and Budiman.
In front of about 35,000 spectators, Alexis hustled for every ball and was creative in his passing.
Midfielder Putu several times breezed unchallenged in the area before meeting with rival defender Budiman who was forever ready to block him from passing the ball to his teammates.
Mitra Surabaya's goalkeeper Hendro Kartiko played well in the first half when he tipped the ball shot by Atangana at 18 minutes in the first half.
In the second half, Hendro, however, could not drive away the ball kicked by mid-fielder Dahiru S. Ibrahim at 58 minutes.
It was when Mitra Surabaya striker Putu was about to kick the ball toward Bandung Raya's end that the game was stopped.
Persebaya wins
In yesterday's second match, PSM defender Syamsudin Batola scored a goal in the first half in the 20th.
Upset by the first goal, Persebaya player tried to level the score by improving teamwork.
The team's Brazilian player, Jacksen Santiago, managed to lead his team and draw 1-1 through his scoring in the first 22 minutes of the first half.
Persebaya's intensified attacks after the draw paid off after Jacksen's acrobatic shot passed through the goal line of PSM for a 2-1 win in the second half.
Twenty minutes after, PSM equalized the score 2-2 through a penalty shot.
Persebaya's supporters cheered after Carlos Demello from the penalty area abruptly kicked a goal and gave his team a 3-2 lead at 74 minutes in the second half.
Persebaya goalkeeper Agus Murod also became team hero by stopping a number of shots from the rival team, which sped up its attacks to level the score.
Tomorrow, Persebaya will take on the winner of today's replayed match between Bandung Raya and Mitra Surabaya. (03)