Jakarta Casual
Thursday, January 23, 2014
Persib Set Up Arema date
It was certainly a day of high drama in the Inter Island Cup in Solo yesterday with Persib,Mitra Kukar and Persiram all in with a chance of making the final and playing Arema on Saturday.
The day started poorly for Mitra Kukar, losing 1-0 against Persiram thanks to Semot's last minute winner.
That made the maths simple. The Papuans had five points and were in pole position. Persib, having drawn their opening two games knew they had to defeat Persik to have any chance of setting up a date with Arema in Sidorajo.
It start well for the Bandung team. Two goals in four minutes from Dimas and Faris gave Persik a shock lead and even though Konate pulled a goal back from the penalty spot just before half time, as things stood, it was Persiram who would be playing Arema at the weekend.
Ferdinand Sinaga equalised for Persib eight minutes into the second half and then M Ridwan won the game in the 89th minute to set up a final between the two teams who had the best average crowds last season.
Arema have already won the Trofeo Persija and the East Java Governor's Cup so have their eyes on a hat trick while Persib haven't won a trophy for so long most people can't remember when it was.
After Sriwijaya, twice, and Persipura won the first three editions of the IIC, 2014 will see not just a new name on the trophy but the first time any team from Java has reached the final.
For the record, IIC final appearances - Sriwijaya 2, Persisam 2, Persipura 1, Persiwa 1.
It's gonna be interesting to see what kind of crowd turns up on Saturday. It's obviously a short trip up the highway for Arema fans to a town just outside Surabaya but how many Persib fans will travel? With it being a weekend game there is a good chance a few will travel down but there is a bit of tension between Arema and Persib fans, based on the enemy's friend is mine enemy.
Anyway, it promises to be a fascinating climax to what has been an exciting competition and in true jakarta Casual style I won't be there!
The day started poorly for Mitra Kukar, losing 1-0 against Persiram thanks to Semot's last minute winner.
That made the maths simple. The Papuans had five points and were in pole position. Persib, having drawn their opening two games knew they had to defeat Persik to have any chance of setting up a date with Arema in Sidorajo.
It start well for the Bandung team. Two goals in four minutes from Dimas and Faris gave Persik a shock lead and even though Konate pulled a goal back from the penalty spot just before half time, as things stood, it was Persiram who would be playing Arema at the weekend.
Ferdinand Sinaga equalised for Persib eight minutes into the second half and then M Ridwan won the game in the 89th minute to set up a final between the two teams who had the best average crowds last season.
Arema have already won the Trofeo Persija and the East Java Governor's Cup so have their eyes on a hat trick while Persib haven't won a trophy for so long most people can't remember when it was.
After Sriwijaya, twice, and Persipura won the first three editions of the IIC, 2014 will see not just a new name on the trophy but the first time any team from Java has reached the final.
For the record, IIC final appearances - Sriwijaya 2, Persisam 2, Persipura 1, Persiwa 1.
It's gonna be interesting to see what kind of crowd turns up on Saturday. It's obviously a short trip up the highway for Arema fans to a town just outside Surabaya but how many Persib fans will travel? With it being a weekend game there is a good chance a few will travel down but there is a bit of tension between Arema and Persib fans, based on the enemy's friend is mine enemy.
Anyway, it promises to be a fascinating climax to what has been an exciting competition and in true jakarta Casual style I won't be there!
Labels: Indonesia, Inter Island Cup, M Ridwan, Manahan Stadium, Mitra Kukar, Persib, Persik, Persiram, Solo
Wednesday, January 22, 2014
Arema Reach IIC Final
Arema reached their third pre season final as they overcame Sriwijaya in the final Big 8 game while Perseru restored some pride by holding Barito Putra to a 0-0.
Playing in front of their home fans for the millionth time, Arema knew what they needed after Barito Putra's surprise draw with Perseru.
Cristian Gonzales scored the only goal of the game to set up a final with, umm, someone.
On the morning of the games in Malang it had looked like Barito Putera had the slight advantage but I guess a final with Kalimantan teams played in East Java won't pull in the fans.
Playing in front of their home fans for the millionth time, Arema knew what they needed after Barito Putra's surprise draw with Perseru.
Cristian Gonzales scored the only goal of the game to set up a final with, umm, someone.
On the morning of the games in Malang it had looked like Barito Putera had the slight advantage but I guess a final with Kalimantan teams played in East Java won't pull in the fans.
Labels: Arema, Barito Putera, Cristian Gonzales, Indonesia, Inter Island Cup, Malang, Perseru, Sriwijaya
Advantage Kalimantan In Inter Island Cup
Reality hit for two of the Super League’s new boys in the
Inter Island Cup as they fell to heavy defeats in the first Big 8 games.
Perseru had surprised everyone when they defeated Persipuura
at the Mandala Stadium in the group stage but they have found life outside
their native Papua a tad harder.
On Sunday, they came up against Sriwijaya who had
surprisingly been thumped by Barito Putra in their first Big 8 at the
Kanjuruhan Stadium in Malang.
This time it was the turn of the Laskar Wong Kito to go goal
crazy, whacking eight past the hapless Persru without repliy.
Former Chonburi, Delttras and Persisam striker led the way
with five. Anis added a couple while Diogo hit an injury time goal to round off
the rout.
The Papuans had lost their first group game 1-0 against
Arema so despite a final game against Barito Putra, their interest in the
competition is over.
Hosts Arema were held 2-2 by Barito Putta despite scoring
twice in a minute. Cristian Gonzales had given them the lead on 23 mins with
Irsyad following suit a minute later.
Bangura pulled one back on the half hour mark and Syahroni
saved the game for the team from South Kalimantan with 12 mins on the clock.
Barito Putra lead the group on goal difference thanks to
their 4-1 defeat of Sriwijaya with Arema in second place. Two time winners
Sriwijaya are third on three points.
With the final games to be played today, Barito Putra will
be hoping to keep on their goal spree against Perseru knowing victory could put
them in the final in Sidoarjo on Saturday.
In the other game, Arema meet Sriwijaya. The team from
Palembang know they must win this difficult game and hope Perseru get an
unlikely result against Barito Putra if they are to reach the final.
The other group kicked off on Sunday with Persib, being
followed by around 1,500 supporters, being held by Persiram 0-0. In the other
game, newly promoted Persik, who sprung a surprise of their own by defeating
Persebaya in the group stage to reach the Big 8, found life a tad tougher
against Mitra Kukar.
Persik had the gall to take the lead against the East
Kalimantan team through Dicky on six mins but Mitra Kukar responded with
Raphael Maitimo scoring on 10 mins. Zulham scored on 17 mins, Anindito added a
third on 36 mins and Zulham added his second a minute later to make it 4-1 at
half time.
The goals continued flowing in the second half with Maitimo
and Zulham completing hattricks and Rendi pulling one back for Persik.
If you have lost count, Mitra Kukar won 7-2 and if I check
my maths, that puts them top of the group that is being held in Solo.
Things were much tighter in the second round of games played
yesterday. Persik put on a much better performance against Persiram, coming
from behind to earn a 1-1 draw. Osas Saha Marvelous scored for the Papuan team
on 81 mins but substitute Dimas Gaih Gumilang equalised with two minutes on the
clock.
Tomorrow will be the final games with everything to be
decided. Mitra Kukar obviously lead the group and must go into their final game
Persiram as slight favorites while Persib take on Persik hoping to end a run of
draws and rediscover their goalscoring touch that had demolished 10 men Persita
in the group stage.
Labels: Arema, Barito Putra, Football, Indonesia, Inter Island Cup, Malang, Mitra Kukar, Persib, Persik, Persiram, Persru, Solo, Sriwijaya
Jakarta Globe Column
Malaysia’s Super League kicked off on Friday night with the
traditional season opener between the champions and the Malaysia Cup winners.
This brought together LionsXII, now coached by Singapore
legend Fandi Ahmad, and Pahang helmed by the experienced Ron Smith.
Hopes are high on the east coast the glory days may be just
around the corner following their first Malaysia Cup triumph in 21 years and
while the club have been active in the pre season transfer market perhaps the
best bit of business they completed was getting Argentine striker Matias Conti
to stay another season.
There was also something of a reunion in Kuantan with a
former Queens Park Rangers defensive duo renewing acquaintances at the back of
the Pahang defense after a six year break. Damion Stewart. Now in his second
season with the club, he was partnered by Pakistani international Zesh Rehman,
signed from Hong Kong;s Kitchee and in this history books as the first Asdian to
play in the English Premier League.
After netting 16 goals in his debut season, Conti marked his
birthday with the only goal in front of 36,000 fans to earn Pahang maximum
points to start the season.
The rest of the games were played on Saturday night with
Selangor defeating T Team 2-0 with new Brazilian striker Paulo Rangel netting
twice. Indonesian striker Patrich Wanggai came on as a substitute for T Team as
they chased the game but to little effect while former Persebaya 1927 winger
Andik Vermansyah was left on the bench by the home team.
Big spenders Johor Darul Takzim also got off to a winning
start defeating Perak 2-0 at the Larkin Stadium in Johore Bahru. Amri Yahyah
and Luciano Figuero scored in each half to send the large crowd home happy.
Former Indonesian international Hamkah Hamza scored on his
debut for PKNS after 18 minutes away to Terengganu but Mamadou Barry equalised
minutes later before hitting the winner half way through the second half.
Kelantan, last season’s FA Cup winners, were also made to
come from behind at the Sultan Muhammed IV Stadium in Kota Bharu. Sime Darby
took the lead within the first 10 minutes through Fadzli Saari and the home
team, nicknamed The Red Warriors, had to wait until the hour mark before
Mohammed Ghaddar made it 1-1.
Last season, Kelantan earned a reputation for leaving things
late and history repeated on Saturday night, Ghaddar netting the winner from
the penalty spot with 10 minutes left.
Kelantan are one of several clubs to have a new coach and
English man Steve Darby is no stranger to the Malaysian game having previously
coached Johor and Perak and he has noticed a sea change.
“Biggest change to me was the
size of the crowds and the intensity of the passion, Kelantan, Johor and Pahang
all had full stadiums with Ultras....its great for players....real
football atmosphere.
“The game is also being marketed far better now by the clubs ie magazines/promotions and the massive use of social media.”
However, while Darby likes much
of what he is seeing he did sound some words of caution. “Pitches sadly have
not improved...some terrible pitches and you will not get good football on hard
bumpy pitches....most teams haven't got proper training facilities and the
pitches are council owned and can be hired out by anybody. The league has made
fitness Coaches compulsory, the next step is Groundsmen!”
In the other game, ATM overcame newly promoted Sarawak 2-0
with first half goals from the prolific Marlon Alex James and Christie
Jayaselan Devasagayam.
In Indonesia, the pre season Inter Island Cup has reached the
Big 8 stage with the final eight teams drawn in two groups of four.
The Malang group kicked off on Saturday with Arema, Perseru
Seru, Sriwijaya Palembang and Barito Putra Banjarmasin going head to head. The
winner of this group will meet the winner of the Solo group (Persib Bandung,
Persiram Raja Ampat, Mitra Kukar Kutai Kertanegara and Persik Kediri) in
Sidoarjo in the final next Saturday.
There was a surprise in the opening game in Malang with
Sriwijaya, winners in 2010 and 2012, getting thumped 4-1 by Barito Putra while
Arema narrowly squeezed passed unfancied Perseru 1-0, conquereros of Persipura
Jayapura in the group stage, with a penalty from Gustavo Lopez.
Labels: Fandi Ahmad, Indonesia, Inter Island Cup, LionsXII, Malaysia Super League, Pahang, Southeast Asia Football, Steve Darby, Zesh Rehman
