Friday, May 25, 2012
Arema Celebrate Unlikely Away Win
Indonesian teams have hardly set Asian football on fire. Ever. So it is refreshing to report that Arema, struggling in the bottom half of the Indonesia Premier League, managed to travel to Hong Kong and defeat Kitchee 2-0 to earn a place in the quarter final stage of Asia's AFC Cup.
Arema of course only reached the Round of 16 after winning their final group game 6-2 to overturn a poor goal difference and no one gave them much chance in Hong Kong.
But two goals from Putut Waringin Jati either side of half time was enough to put them in the draw for the final eight.
Joining them are Kelantan who overcame near neighbours Terengganu 3-2. The Malaysian champions had raced in to a 3-0 first half lead but Terengganu fought back second half and on 85 minutes a penalty by Francis Forkay Doe made it 3-2 with the home team down to 10 men. They held out though for a famous victory just days after lifting the FA Cup.
One other team made it through. Chonburi defeated some team from Iraq 1-0, goal from Pipob On Mo.
The next round will be in September, home and away, and chances are high the teams from our region will be drawn against Middle Eastern opposition which won't be easy; no one ever wins there. Refs usually come from there as well and previous teams have complained about home team bias which I find reallyhard to believe. As if FIFA would allow such a thing...
Arema of course only reached the Round of 16 after winning their final group game 6-2 to overturn a poor goal difference and no one gave them much chance in Hong Kong.
But two goals from Putut Waringin Jati either side of half time was enough to put them in the draw for the final eight.
Joining them are Kelantan who overcame near neighbours Terengganu 3-2. The Malaysian champions had raced in to a 3-0 first half lead but Terengganu fought back second half and on 85 minutes a penalty by Francis Forkay Doe made it 3-2 with the home team down to 10 men. They held out though for a famous victory just days after lifting the FA Cup.
One other team made it through. Chonburi defeated some team from Iraq 1-0, goal from Pipob On Mo.
The next round will be in September, home and away, and chances are high the teams from our region will be drawn against Middle Eastern opposition which won't be easy; no one ever wins there. Refs usually come from there as well and previous teams have complained about home team bias which I find reallyhard to believe. As if FIFA would allow such a thing...
# posted by Me @ 3:59 AM 
