Sunday, May 28, 2017
Sansan's Brace Makes Persela Rue Missed Chances
Was this the proverbial game of two strikers? As PS TNI bounced back from suffering their first defeat of the season away to Madura United last week they made light of the number of first teamers missing from their line up last night with debutant Sansan Husaeni grabbing his chance with a couple of goals that were ultimately the difference in a thoroughly absorbing game at Pakansari Stadium last night.
The 27 year old striker, pictured left, hasn't had that much of a career to be honest. Since making his debut for Persija back in 2009/10 season he has flitted around the clubs having short stints with Jakarta FC 1928 and Persija (both Liga Primer Indonesia sides), Persekap and most recently Persikad and yet here he was showing more experienced pros how to finish not once but twice.
Certainly had Ivan Carlos, Persela's Brazilian striker, showed a similar assuredness in front of goal we may have seen a very different outcome. From the early minutes Carlos was presented with chance after chance as Persela, buzzing with confidence after a recent run of three games unbeaten had seen them climb from the relegation zone to mid table, set about a home side shorn of a number of first team starters. But Carlos' shooting boots had been left behind in Lamongan as chance after chance went begging and it was Sansan who drew first blood after fine work down the right flank on 23 minutes.
Leonel Nunez made it 2-0 five minutes before half time and when the ref finally blew the whistle bringing the first 45 to a close the feeling was that PS TNI's sheer ruthlessness in front of goal would be enough for them to go on and secure the points.
When Sansan netted his second early in the second half that was surely it. Game, set and match to an understrength PS TNI side. Coach Ivan Koelv began ringing the changes, Sansan coming off on the hour mark and, surprisingly, central defender Facundo Talin on 67 minutes. The Argentine defender had, as usual, spent an inordinate amount of timing discussing finer points of the laws of the game with the ref but he put in a commanding shift as usual as his team struggled at times to handle the rapier like Persela attacks.
Credit to Carlos, he kept going despite his misses, there is of course one thing worse than missing so many chances and that is not creating any chances. and his hard work finally paid off when he pulled one back with 13 minutes on the clock. Ahmad Birrul Walidan made it 3-2 with four minutes remaining to set up a nailbiting final few minutes for the home side. There was still time for the ref to ensure the football would not have all the headlines when he forgot about the advantage rule and halted a promising Persela break to send Gunter Triaji off for a reckless challenge. It was a poor tackle yes but the decision by the ref was poorer.
Persela can feel themselves unlucky to head home with nothing but coach Herry Kiswanto can at least feel satisfied his team did put in a shift. As for Sansan, it's been a long wait but finally he has made his mark on the top flight!
# posted by Me @ 9:34 AM 
