Thursday, October 19, 2017
Relegated Gresik Face Humiliation Of Conceding 100 Goals
With 13 defeats in their last 14 games it is little wonder Gresik United have long been doomed to relegation. They have picked up a mere 10 points all season and with four games remaining are 19 points from safety and carry a negative goal difference of -62.
Yesterday however they hosted Perseru, fellow relegation fodder and notorious travellers, and I thought here was a chance to salvage some self respect, some dignity before the inevitable drop. I mean, come on this is Perseru for goodness sake, a side that has only picked up four draws away from home. Surely Gresik would grasp this opportunity?
Gresik United v Perseru 2-5! And to make things even worse Gresik's goals came from a penalty and an own goal. That just 355 saw the game no longer makes news. Gresik's season has been over for weeks and now they have little to play for beyond keeping their goal difference from exploding.
Yesterday's loss means they have shipped 86 goals this season and with four games remaining who is to say they won't end the season with a whopping 100? Certainly when you consider the opposition who await it has to be a reasonable assumption.
Arema may not have had the best of seasons themselves but with Cristian Gonzales and Esteban Vizcarra they are always likely to carve out chances. PS TNI have shown signs of recovery in recent weeks under new coach Rudy Eka Priyambada. It is never easy to go to Sriwijaya and in their last game they cross the Bali Straits to face title challenging Bali United who are averaging more than two goals a game and in Sylvano Comvalius have one player who has scored more goals than the whole of Gresik have.
Things could be worse. At least they are not Samut Prakan Super Power in Thai League 1. Never can a football team have been so badly named. They are bottom of the table by some distance with just a single win, achieved last weekend, and a single draw to show for their efforts. They have already managed to concede 119 goals and with four games remaining who knows how many more are waiting to be shipped.
Gresik United may feel they have nothing left to play for with relegation a certainty and their fans deserting them. But they surely must have a modicum of pride left in their battered boots and shin pads. Surely they don't want to go out with a whimper and an embarrassing 100 goals conceded in a single season?
# posted by Me @ 2:03 PM 
