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