Ujungpandang

Ujungpandang
into semifinals
after a draw

JAKARTA (JP): Defending champion PSM Ujungpandang followed in
the footsteps of Bandung to march into Friday's semifinals after
a scoreless draw, but PSIR Rembang stole the limelight in
yesterday's Group K intercity amateur soccer championship by
crushing Persiraja Banda Aceh 4-1.

Capturing a chance at the final four was only part of the
delight for the Ujungpandang side, which won despite its under-
form performance in its top-of-the-table match against Bandung.
Each player on the team was awarded Rp 10 million (US$4,655) in
cash by Mayor Benny Huwae.

Rembang, although not as lucky, showed more spunk by shrugging
off its helpless position after two consecutive losses by
displaying attack-minded soccer throughout the 90 minutes of
play. Rightwinger Fritz Rudolf Padwa capped his brilliant showing
with a hat-trick in addition to midfielder Hadi Surento's 12th
minute goal.

Bandung coach Indra Tohir denied risking injuries to his ace
players as he kept number one goalkeeper Aries Rinaldi and
explosive midfielder Yudi Guntara on the bench during the energy
saving match.

Indra also replaced hard-working winger Kekey Zakaria with
Tatang Suryana prior to the second half, leaving stopper and
captain Robby Darwis and backs Nandang Kurnaedi and Hendra Komara
to make numerous overlaps in Ujungpandang's rear zone.

The West Javanese team, winner of the 1990 edition, gained a
slight upper-hand in the first half, but was forced to closely
mark substitute midfielder Ayub Khan and striker Kaharuddin Jamal
in the second. Ayub was in the right position to hit a rebound,
following a goal mouth melee at the 70th minute, but his
thunderous cross went a meter shy of substitute goalkeeper Gatot
Prasetio's right post.

Bandung had its golden chance two minutes into the break when
Kekey cut a pass from Nandang. Ujungpandang goalie Herman
Kadiaman dived in vain, but the ball hit a pole.

Star

Energetic Fritz delighted the 30,000 people at the Senayan
stadium with his well-aimed passes which led Rembang's forays.
With his hat-trick last night, he now shares the lead on the top
scorers' list with Bandung's Sutiono.

Fritz masterminded the opening goal in the 12th minute with a
long pass to the come-from-behind defenseman Tulastono. Herman
managed to block Tulastono's cross, but Hadi Surento rushed to
slot the ball home.

Fritz showed his mastery in finishing a quick breakaway raid,
orchestrated within a well-knit partnership with Hadi and captain
Joko Supriyono, when he put his side 2-0 up in the 56th minute.

Aceh came closer to equalizing the tie when Dahlan Jalil
excellently executed a penalty awarded by referee Abdul Razak
Umar in the 65th minute, following a foul against Achmad Gamal in
Rembang's penalty area.

The squad from a tiny town in northern Central Java, which
entered the Senayan stadium with a modest target of "avoiding a
shameful performance," speeded up its rhythm and kept Aceh from
being the defensive side.

Fritz found the net again in the 73rd minute after a sudden
solo run and scored another goal three minutes before the time.

On Monday, host Persija Jakarta and last year's runner-up PSMS
Medan moved closer to reaching the semifinals after they overcame
the sturdy challenges of the East Javanese teams. With three
points in hand each, they will need only a draw in their last
Group L matches today.

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 Banda Aceh 2 0 1 2 2-8 1

Group L
PSMS Medan 2 1 1 0 3-2 3
Persija Jakarta 2 1 1 0 1-0 3
Persebaya Surabaya 2 1 0 1 2-1 2
Persegres Gresik 2 0 0 2 2-5 0

Top scorers
3 - Sutiono (Persib), Fritz Rudolf Padwa (PSIR)
2 - Agus Winarno (Persebaya), Erwin Daud (PSMS)

Today's fixtures
Persebaya vs PSMS
Persija vs Persegres