Tear gas disrupts local soccer match

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)