Thursday, August 10, 2017
Madura United Stay Top But Beware The Black Pearls
Madura United v Persela 2-1 (Slamet Nurcahyo, Fandi Eko Utomo; Kousuke Uchida) 4,429
Persela continue to show what a tough team they are to break down after traveling to the island of Madura and almost coming away with a point. They managed to keep the home side's strike force of Peter Odemwingie and Greg Nwokolo quiet, no mean achievement for a partnership that has produced 20 goals between them, but Madura still had enough in the tank to come up with an 82nd minute winner by Fandi Utomo, on at half time for new signing Cameron Watson.
Bhayangkara v Arema 2-1 (Dendi Sulistyono, Ilham Uddin; Cristian Gonzales) 2,600
It's been quite a season for Ilham Uddin Armaiyn, Bhayangkara's 21 year old striker. He came on as a substitute for Sulistiyono and scored the winner, his sixth goal of an exciting start to his career. And when he scores the goals count. This goal came when his side were drawing 1-1. His last goal against Madura United gave his team a 2-1 lead. He also scored the decisive second goal when Bhayangkara defeated Persiba 2-1. All goals count of course but for this young lad his goals earn Simon McMenemys team valuable points as they bid for the title. He can only get better, especially with the news Bhayangkara have signed Ilija Spasojevic.
Semen Padang v Gresik United 4-1 (Vendry Mofu, Marcel Sacremento, Irsyad Maulana, Tambun Naibaho; Yusuf Effendi) 2,250
Borneo v Sriwijaya 0-1 (Alberto Goncalves) 8,075
That man Beto, with his 11th goal of the season in the 89th minute, ended Borneo's 100% home record and ensured only a second away win for Sriwijaya in what has been a disappointing campaign for the ambitious South Sumatra side. The late win also ended a run of four consecutive draws. While Sriwijaya can breath at last pressure is mounting on Borneo caretaker coach Ricky Nelson. Management have told him he needs to win their next game, at home to PS TNI, to stay in a job.
Persib v PS TNI 3-1 (Raphael Maitimo 2, Michael Essien; Sunsun Husaeni) 3,160
Persib ended their own poor run of five games without a win with a comfortable win over a PS TNI side which has fallen away after a good start to the season. Persib, apparently playing behind closed doors but with fans allowed, went into the game without a recognised striker, Carlton Cole finally released and Sergio van Dijk injured, but with Maitimo pushed further forward did enough to win the points. With a new striker on the way has a corner been turned by Persib? Their next two games are at Arema and Sriwijaya!
Persiba v Perseru 2-1 (Anmar Al Mubaraki, Sunarto; Arthur Bonai) 3,577
When Arthur Bonai gave Perseru the lead on four minutes surely we were not going to witness that rarest of rarities; a Perseru away win? The record books show they haven't celebrated three points on their travels since they defeated Persela 3-1 back in November 2014 but alas and alack the drought was not to be ended here. New signing Srdan Lopicic had a hand in both goals as Persiba came from behind to earn maximum points with the winner coming from another new signing, ex Arema man Sunarto. It was only Persiba's second win of the season but don't get too excited. They are still 14 points from safety.
Barito Putera v Persija 1-0 (M Rifki) 5,909
Persija's impressive 12 game unbeaten run came to an end in Banjarmasin with Rifki's goal early in the second half enough to send the Macan Kemayoran home empty handed. The result ended Barito Putera's four game winless streak but coach Jacksen F Thiago won't be getting too excited. His team face back to back away games against Mitra Kukar and Prseru. As for Persija they have new signing Reinaldo to welcome to their ranks and hope he can provide the goals their approach play deserves.
PSM v Mitra Kukar 1-0 (Ferdinand Sinaga) 12,875
With a foreign ref taking charge of this game PSM needed a late winner from Sinaga, only his second of the season, to overcome a dogged Mitra Kukar side which chose to go with veteran goalkeeper Joice Sarangan. PSM gave new signing Zulham Zamrun a run out in the first half and can look forward to the presence of Uzbek striker Pavel Purishkin in future games. Robert Alberts will be hoping he won't need to long to adapt, he formerly played in Malaysia with UiTM.
Persipura v Bali United 3-1 (Addison Alves 3; Sylvano Comvalius) 16,128
There is such a familiarity about Indonesian football. The season starts, clubs jockey for position and consistency before Persipura are crowned champions. Is it happening again? Addison is on a hot streak now, 10 goals in nine games after a slow start to the season, and the Black Pearls seem unstoppable right now. Bali United have been in good form themselves recently winning five out of their last six games and coach Widodo Cahyono Putro will be hoping his team can put this result behind them quickly as they look forward to back to back home games. Problem is, one is against Madura United!
1 - Madura United 18 10 5 3 32-18 35
2 - Persipura 18 10 4 4 33-22 34
3 - Bhayangkara 18 11 0 7 29-23 33
4 - Bali United 18 10 2 6 33-21 32
5 - PSM Makassar 18 9 4 5 25-19 31
15 - Persib 18 6 6 6 19-19 24
16 - Perseru 18 3 6 9 12-23 15
17 - Persiba 18 2 4 12 16-30 10
18 - Gresik United 18 1 4 13 16-37 7
14 - Sylvano Comvalius (Bali United)
13 - Peter Odemwingie (Madura United)
11 - Alberto Goncalves (Sriwijaya), Addison Alves (Persipura)
Persela continue to show what a tough team they are to break down after traveling to the island of Madura and almost coming away with a point. They managed to keep the home side's strike force of Peter Odemwingie and Greg Nwokolo quiet, no mean achievement for a partnership that has produced 20 goals between them, but Madura still had enough in the tank to come up with an 82nd minute winner by Fandi Utomo, on at half time for new signing Cameron Watson.
Bhayangkara v Arema 2-1 (Dendi Sulistyono, Ilham Uddin; Cristian Gonzales) 2,600
It's been quite a season for Ilham Uddin Armaiyn, Bhayangkara's 21 year old striker. He came on as a substitute for Sulistiyono and scored the winner, his sixth goal of an exciting start to his career. And when he scores the goals count. This goal came when his side were drawing 1-1. His last goal against Madura United gave his team a 2-1 lead. He also scored the decisive second goal when Bhayangkara defeated Persiba 2-1. All goals count of course but for this young lad his goals earn Simon McMenemys team valuable points as they bid for the title. He can only get better, especially with the news Bhayangkara have signed Ilija Spasojevic.
Semen Padang v Gresik United 4-1 (Vendry Mofu, Marcel Sacremento, Irsyad Maulana, Tambun Naibaho; Yusuf Effendi) 2,250
Borneo v Sriwijaya 0-1 (Alberto Goncalves) 8,075
That man Beto, with his 11th goal of the season in the 89th minute, ended Borneo's 100% home record and ensured only a second away win for Sriwijaya in what has been a disappointing campaign for the ambitious South Sumatra side. The late win also ended a run of four consecutive draws. While Sriwijaya can breath at last pressure is mounting on Borneo caretaker coach Ricky Nelson. Management have told him he needs to win their next game, at home to PS TNI, to stay in a job.
Persib v PS TNI 3-1 (Raphael Maitimo 2, Michael Essien; Sunsun Husaeni) 3,160
Persib ended their own poor run of five games without a win with a comfortable win over a PS TNI side which has fallen away after a good start to the season. Persib, apparently playing behind closed doors but with fans allowed, went into the game without a recognised striker, Carlton Cole finally released and Sergio van Dijk injured, but with Maitimo pushed further forward did enough to win the points. With a new striker on the way has a corner been turned by Persib? Their next two games are at Arema and Sriwijaya!
Persiba v Perseru 2-1 (Anmar Al Mubaraki, Sunarto; Arthur Bonai) 3,577
When Arthur Bonai gave Perseru the lead on four minutes surely we were not going to witness that rarest of rarities; a Perseru away win? The record books show they haven't celebrated three points on their travels since they defeated Persela 3-1 back in November 2014 but alas and alack the drought was not to be ended here. New signing Srdan Lopicic had a hand in both goals as Persiba came from behind to earn maximum points with the winner coming from another new signing, ex Arema man Sunarto. It was only Persiba's second win of the season but don't get too excited. They are still 14 points from safety.
Barito Putera v Persija 1-0 (M Rifki) 5,909
Persija's impressive 12 game unbeaten run came to an end in Banjarmasin with Rifki's goal early in the second half enough to send the Macan Kemayoran home empty handed. The result ended Barito Putera's four game winless streak but coach Jacksen F Thiago won't be getting too excited. His team face back to back away games against Mitra Kukar and Prseru. As for Persija they have new signing Reinaldo to welcome to their ranks and hope he can provide the goals their approach play deserves.
PSM v Mitra Kukar 1-0 (Ferdinand Sinaga) 12,875
With a foreign ref taking charge of this game PSM needed a late winner from Sinaga, only his second of the season, to overcome a dogged Mitra Kukar side which chose to go with veteran goalkeeper Joice Sarangan. PSM gave new signing Zulham Zamrun a run out in the first half and can look forward to the presence of Uzbek striker Pavel Purishkin in future games. Robert Alberts will be hoping he won't need to long to adapt, he formerly played in Malaysia with UiTM.
Persipura v Bali United 3-1 (Addison Alves 3; Sylvano Comvalius) 16,128
There is such a familiarity about Indonesian football. The season starts, clubs jockey for position and consistency before Persipura are crowned champions. Is it happening again? Addison is on a hot streak now, 10 goals in nine games after a slow start to the season, and the Black Pearls seem unstoppable right now. Bali United have been in good form themselves recently winning five out of their last six games and coach Widodo Cahyono Putro will be hoping his team can put this result behind them quickly as they look forward to back to back home games. Problem is, one is against Madura United!
1 - Madura United 18 10 5 3 32-18 35
2 - Persipura 18 10 4 4 33-22 34
3 - Bhayangkara 18 11 0 7 29-23 33
4 - Bali United 18 10 2 6 33-21 32
5 - PSM Makassar 18 9 4 5 25-19 31
15 - Persib 18 6 6 6 19-19 24
16 - Perseru 18 3 6 9 12-23 15
17 - Persiba 18 2 4 12 16-30 10
18 - Gresik United 18 1 4 13 16-37 7
14 - Sylvano Comvalius (Bali United)
13 - Peter Odemwingie (Madura United)
11 - Alberto Goncalves (Sriwijaya), Addison Alves (Persipura)
# posted by Me @ 8:05 AM 
