Friday, February 13, 2009
Goal drought worries Arema
Arema Malang are one of the few private clubs strutting their stuff in the ISL yet that doesn’t mean they are flush with cash. They are struggling as most other clubs are.
The second half of the season has been unkind to the side known as the Crazy Lions with three games played and no goals scored. At least yesterday they secured a point, drawing 0-0 away to PSMS, Indonesia’s draw specialists.
After two straight defeats coach Gusnul Yakin will be happy enough at the clean sheet but the lack of goals is of immediate concern. Emile Mbamba was suspended months ago yet he is still the second top scorer with four goals. Both Emaleu Serge and Soulayman Traore have scored more but just one more.
Patricio Morales has yet to score since his return from Chile and to be fair in his last spell with the club he was hardly a prolific scorer, not even reaching double figures if I recall.
Arema are probably safe from relegation, they are 12 points above the drop zone with 14 games left, but they are a long way from being a contender for anything. Out of the Copa Indonesia and out of the title race, those heady ACL days back in 2007 seem very far away.
In yesterday’s other game Persiba won the Borneo Derby beating PKT Bontang 1-0 thanks to Gaston Castano’s first half penalty. That was the Argentinean striker’s fourth goal of the season but his first for Persiba. The others came for PSIS.
The Balikpapan side have been drawn against Persija in the Copa Indonesia 3rd round with the first leg at the Bung Karno in Jakarta likely to be on 26th February.
The second half of the season has been unkind to the side known as the Crazy Lions with three games played and no goals scored. At least yesterday they secured a point, drawing 0-0 away to PSMS, Indonesia’s draw specialists.
After two straight defeats coach Gusnul Yakin will be happy enough at the clean sheet but the lack of goals is of immediate concern. Emile Mbamba was suspended months ago yet he is still the second top scorer with four goals. Both Emaleu Serge and Soulayman Traore have scored more but just one more.
Patricio Morales has yet to score since his return from Chile and to be fair in his last spell with the club he was hardly a prolific scorer, not even reaching double figures if I recall.
Arema are probably safe from relegation, they are 12 points above the drop zone with 14 games left, but they are a long way from being a contender for anything. Out of the Copa Indonesia and out of the title race, those heady ACL days back in 2007 seem very far away.
In yesterday’s other game Persiba won the Borneo Derby beating PKT Bontang 1-0 thanks to Gaston Castano’s first half penalty. That was the Argentinean striker’s fourth goal of the season but his first for Persiba. The others came for PSIS.
The Balikpapan side have been drawn against Persija in the Copa Indonesia 3rd round with the first leg at the Bung Karno in Jakarta likely to be on 26th February.
# posted by Me @ 7:09 AM 
