Thursday, June 28, 2012
PSIM v Persebaya 2-1
Yoi just have to admire the optimism that pervades in Indonesian
football. No one has a real idea when any new season may start or what it will
look like yet both leagues carry on
regardless.
This year’s rebel league is now hosting the Divisi Utama
play offs for the right to play in next season’s Indonesia Super League. Two groups
of four are fighting it out, literally, to be promoted.
Today saw the second round of games in Yogyakarta. Hosts
PSIM defeated PS Sumbawa Barat 2-1 in their first game while Persebaya were
thumped 5-1 by Barito Putra.
The pressure was evident on that first day with one ref
reportedly being asked to be replaced and one coach, Persebaya’s Freddy Mulli,
quitting after that defeat.
The game may have been played at Mandala Krida Stadium in
Yogyakarta but otticially the hosts were the away team.
Given the way they were crushed in the first game it was a
wonder any Persebaya fans made the journey at all bit a did and they kept up a
noise all game.
The game itself? You know lah, typical Indonesian fare, all
three goals came from dead balls, two penalties, plastic bottles were thrown,
the ref was attacked and pushed by players from both teams and the sun shone.
Persebaya in truth should have won the game but the PSIM
keeper put in a good shift.
Controversy was never far away. PSIM had appeals for
apenalty turned down. Minutes later they were given a dodgy nne which the
Persebaya players vehemently protested in the usual manner. The ire was futher
increased when the keeper saved the penalty only for the ref to allow it to be
taken again. PSIM scored second time around which I think was the idea anyway.
For all the pushing and shoving of the ref he seemed to take
it in good spiriy. At least he didn’t book anyone.
Which contrasted nicely with when he awarded Persebaya a
penalty of their very own. He sent the PSIM offender off. My picture on AsianFootball Pictures shows that it was a borderline call at best. Deserving of a
red? Nope.
Second half was mostly Persebaya with Cucu Hidayat looking
in good form but for all their possession they never really troubled the keeper
again.
Players spent most of the game falling over for little
apparent reason. The ref had lost the game as mini feuds erupted all over the
bloody place including the PSIM bench where some geezer in a suit manhandled
one of his coaching staff away from the match officials.
Like I said before. Just another Indonesian football match!
# posted by Me @ 7:49 PM 
