Wednesday, February 19, 2014
Jakarta Globe Column
While Muang Thong United and Chonburi
may have eased past AFC Champions League play off opponents on home
turf, when it comes to jumping on an airplane they seem to leave
their scoring boots behind.
Chonburi were turned over 4-0 by
Beijing Guoan in China while Muang Thong United were unable to hold
on to a 22nd minute lead given to them by Mario Durovski
and went down 2-1 to Melbourne Victory and suffered the ignominy of
having Datsakorn Thonglao red carded in injury time.
They will have no time to reflect on
their disappointment as the Thai Premier League kicks off this
weekend. Champions Buriram United host Songkla United, Muang Thong
entertain Chainat while Chonburi take on Police.
The eruption from Mount Kelud in East
Java has had repercussions on the Indonesia Super League. Following
their 1-0 win over Persita Tangerang, unbeaten western conference
leaders Arema were stranded at the airport as all flights to their
home base of Malang were cancelled due to layers of volcanic ash on
the runway.
They eventually made it home after
flying to Bali and going overland from there!
Champions Persipura Jayapura continued
their strange start to the season with a 2-2 draw away to Putra
Samarinda in East Kalimantan. Gerald Pangkali gave the visitors the
lead on 16 minutes but prolific striker Ilija Spasojevic leveled just
before half time from the penalty spot.
Sultan Samma gave the home team the
lead eight minutes into the second half before the long serving
Cameroonian defender, Paulin Pierre Bio saved a point for the Black
Pearls with 10 minutes remaining.
The draw was enough to keep them
top of the table despite winning just one of their opening four
games.
Their spell in the top spot of the
eastern conference lasted just 24 hours as Mitra Kukar defeated
Perseru Seru 1-0 with a goal from Eric Weeks Lewis to move a point
clear.
The last couple of seasons have seen
Semen Padang pretty much all one their own in the weakened Premier
League. There was little in the way of competition and they even
found time for a run to the quarter finals of the AFC Cup suggesting
the team could do a job in a stronger league.
Now they are playing in the ISL and
thus far their season hadn’t been much to write home about,
defeating Barito Putera 2-0 and losing to Persija Jakarta by the same
score in Jakarta.
With Persib Bandung enjoying their
traditional good start to the season not many people would have
predicted an away win.
The Jalak Harupat Stadium can be an
intimidating venue at the best of times but it seems the men from
West Sumatra were unperturbed and went into an early lead through
Esteban. An own goal from Supardi doubled the lead and despite a last
minute goal from Djibril Coulibily, they held on for a momentous
victory.
In Monday’s game there was an
emotional return to first team action for Bambang Pamungaks. Only tis
time he wasn’t lining up for Persija but against them. Bepe took
the field for his new team, Pelita Bandung Raya and scored twice in
the 2-2 draw to keep PBR’s fine start to the season on track.
Unfortunately there were reports of
isolated violence in and around the stadium as a small band of
travelling Persija fans were attacked with rocks. Later this week,
Persija return to the same stadium to take on Persib and it is
certain there won’t be any away fans then.
In Malaysia, big spenders Johor Darul
Takzim crushed Selangor 4-1. Forget the former World Cup star Pablo
Aimar, this game was all about a couple of internationals from a more
humble background.
Goals from Baihakki Khaizan and Hariss
Harun, Singapore internationals both, gave JDT a 2-0 lead in the
first half hour and the big spenders from the southern tip of the
Asian mainland went on to defeat Selangor 4-1.
The result keeps JDT comfortably mid
table but Baihakki was uncomfortably aware the defence needed more
time to gel.
We realize that we still haven’t got that grip within one another. Also knowing that the expectation level is really high, demanding top quality performance every game. I think that’s where it frazed us a little’.
The former Geylang United, Persija, Persib and LionsXII defender said the seeds of the win had been planted in the last game.
‘It started with the 3-1 home win against Kedah in the FA cup and it went on again against Selangor. That is what we have been searching for, something that could rise the confidence level of the whole team and everybody realize it’s all about togetherness and working hard each and every game.’
Selangor coach Mehmet Durakovic will rue the opportunity spurned to go top but will also recognize the team remain just one point off the lead.
Perhaps of greater concern to the former Australian international will the lack of goals contributed by the team. So far, Paolo Rangel has hit six of Selangor’s seven league goals this campaign.
Terengganu moved top of the heap with 10 points after defeating Pahang 2-0 with a brace from Mario Karlovic while Kelantan and Sarawak joined Selangor on nine points behind the leaders.
We realize that we still haven’t got that grip within one another. Also knowing that the expectation level is really high, demanding top quality performance every game. I think that’s where it frazed us a little’.
The former Geylang United, Persija, Persib and LionsXII defender said the seeds of the win had been planted in the last game.
‘It started with the 3-1 home win against Kedah in the FA cup and it went on again against Selangor. That is what we have been searching for, something that could rise the confidence level of the whole team and everybody realize it’s all about togetherness and working hard each and every game.’
Selangor coach Mehmet Durakovic will rue the opportunity spurned to go top but will also recognize the team remain just one point off the lead.
Perhaps of greater concern to the former Australian international will the lack of goals contributed by the team. So far, Paolo Rangel has hit six of Selangor’s seven league goals this campaign.
Terengganu moved top of the heap with 10 points after defeating Pahang 2-0 with a brace from Mario Karlovic while Kelantan and Sarawak joined Selangor on nine points behind the leaders.
Labels: AFC Champions League Qualifiers, Arema, Baihakki Khaizan, Chonburi, Gunung Kelud, Johor Darul Takzim, Muang Thong United
# posted by Me @ 8:29 AM 
