Friday, July 13, 2018
Barito Putera Two Points Clear Despite Goalless Draw
Round 15
PS Tira v Mitra Kukar 0-0 67
As you know I do like to watch the odd game of football now and then and I do love my trips down to Yogyakarta. Hand on heart though there is no way I would have headed down for this particular game. PS Tira have struggled all season, both on the field and off it attracting fans to their new ground in Bantul, while Mitra Kukar, despite boasting Englishman Danny Guthrie and free scoring Rodriguez in their ranks just don't do well in their travels.
Sriwijaya v Persija 2-2 (Esteban Vizcarra 2: Ivan Carlos, Rezaldi Hehanusa) 19,151
This was more like it. Home side Sriwijaya have been plagued by financial woes with rumours of a mass exodus during the transfer window but Rahmad Darmawan's men came from behind twice to secure a point against Persija in a game that featured nine yellow cards. Vizcarra's brace made it four in four for the Argentine striker as Laskar Wong Kito keep up their title challenge.
Bhayangkara v Persebaya 3-3 (OG, Vendry Mofu, Alsan Putra Sanda: Osvaldo Haay, Irfan Jaya, David Silva) 1,200
Now this was a game and a half as Persebaya played their second game in a couple of weeks at the tiny PTIK Stadium in Jakarta. Champions Bhanyangkara, on a roll after a slow start to the season, led 2-0. Persebaya, with just three losses all season, fought back with Irfan levelling on 83 minutes later to set up an almighty climax to the game. Sanda restored the home side's lead a minute later before Silva saved a point for the Green Force with tow minutes remaining.
Barito Putera v Arema 0-0 6,827
Barito Putera coach Jacksen F Thiago may have been disappointed to see his team drop vital points in their bid for a first ever title but seeing his nearest rivals drop points would have gone some way towards brightening his mood. And anyway despite Arema's inconsistencies this season this was after all a game between the two best teams in the land on current form.
Bali United v PSM 2-0 (Ilija Spasojevic, Stefano Lilipaly) 15,425
You don't become a bad striker over night and although Spasojevic has not had his most productive season so far he will always be a threat. His opener against title challengers PSM was just his third of the season and Bali fans will be hoping it will kickstart his and his team's season as they have struggled to find the consistency that saw them push Bhayangkara all the way last season.
Persela v Borneo 2-0 (Loris Arnaud, OG) 9,098
Unfancied Persela continue to show their pedigree after this win put them within four points of the leaders Barito Putera with one of their former players, Eddy Gunawan putting through his own goal to secure another win for the home side. Persela just don't lose home games.
Perseru v Persib 0-0 836
Perseru recently beat Persija 3-1 at home, not a surprise in itself. No, what raised eyebrows was the team scoring goals full stop! In their 15 games this season they have netted just nine times. Normal service was resumed here.
PSIS v Madura United 0-0 8,415
With just one win in their previous four games Madura United have, rather like Bali United, struggled to imitate the consistency that marked their campaign last season. Gomes de Oliveira has returned as coach and may view this as a useful point earned on their travels but with a team boasting players like Fabiano Beltrame, Zah Rahan, Raphael Maitimo surely more is expected?
PSMS v Persipura 1-3 (Dilshod Sharofetdinov: Immanuel Wanggai, Boas Solossa, Hilton Moreira) 11,150
Persipura's longest awayday of the season saw them pick up a comfortable three points in North Sumatra against newly promoted, and bottom placed, PSMS. Winless in their previous five games the Black Pearls badly needed three points to restore some confidence; next up is a home game against relegation candidates PSIS and a local derby away to Perseru!
1 - Barito Putera 15 8 3 4 27-21 27
2 - PSM Makassar 15 7 4 4 21-18 25
3 - Sriwijaya 15 6 5 4 28-20 23
4 - Persela 15 6 5 4 25-20 23
5 - Bhayamgkara 15 6 5 4 19-19 23
12 - Ezechial N'Douassel (Persib)
11 - Fernando Rodriguez (Mitra Kukar)
9 - Loris Arnaud (Persela), Stefano Lilypaly (Bali United), Aleksandar Rakic (PS Tira)
8 - Samsul Arif (Barito Putera)
# posted by Me @ 1:57 AM 
