Jakarta Casual

Madura United v Pusamania 2-1 (Engelberd Sani, Pablo Rodrigues; Pedro Javier) 3,720 

Pusamania's new coach Dragan Djukanovic complained about the ref after seeing his side go down 2-1 against Madura United who bounced back after their thumping last week in Palembang.

Madura United: Hery Prasetyo; Asep Berlian, Fabiano Beltrame, Guntur Ariyadi, Munhar, Dane Milovanovic, Rosi Noprihanis (Engelberd 46'), Slamet Nurcahyo (Elthon 66'), Bayu Gatra, Rendy Siregar (Jeki 79'), Pablo Rodrigues Aracil.

Subs: Joko Ribowo; Gilang Ginarsa, Jeki Arisandi, Rishadi Fauzi, Fajar Handika, Elthon Maran, Engelberd Sani.

Pusamania: Dian Agus Prasetyo; Diego Michiels (Gavin 64'), Jad Noureddin, Zulkifli Syukur (Jefri 14'), Firli Apriyansyah, Gerald Rudolf Pangkali, Edilson Tavares (Lerby 77'), Terens Puhiri, Ponaryo Astaman, Tarik Boschetti, Pedro Javier.

Subs: Nadeo Argawinata; Gavin Kwan Adsit, Hendra Ridwan, Jefri Kurniawan, Sandi Darma Sute, Lerby Eliandri, Sultan Samma.

Mitra Kukar v Arema 2-1 (Alan Leandro, Arthur Cunna; Hamka Hamzah) 7,231

Unfancied Mitra Kukar top the ISC for at least 24 hours after inflicting Arema's first defeat of the season. Leandro's third of the season made him the competition's top scorer .

Mitra Kukar: Shahar Ginanjar, Michael Orah, Saepuloh Maulana, Arthur Cunna, Abdul Gamal, Bayu Pradana, Rodrigo Dos Santos, Septian David Maulana, Hendra Adi Bayauw, Marlon Da Silva, Alan Leandro

Arema: Kurnia Meiga, Ahmad Alfarizi, Hamka Hamzah, Goran Gancev, Beny Wahyudi, Hendro Siswanto, Ferry Aman Saragih, Raphael Maitimo, Srdjan Lopicic, Esteban Vizcarra, Gustavo Giron Marulanda

PSM v Barito Putera 1-0 (Ardan Aras) 8,511 

PSM sacked their coach, or he quit, midweek after supposedly a poor run of results. They had won one and lost two of their opening three games of the season. With Luciano Leandro gone it was Tony Ho who took the helm for this home game and hey presto they won.

The competition to replace Leandro seems to be hotting up but on the field the three points for PSM moves them to within two points of leaders Mitra Kukar...but hey. Let's sack the coach anyway.

PSM  Dimas Galih Pratama; Boman Irie Aime,  Erik Setiawan, Achmad Sumardi;  Ardan Aras, Maldini Pali,  Rizky Pellu,  Syamsul Chaeruddin;  Lamine Diarrassouba,  Ferdinand Sinaga,  Muchlis Hadi Ning Syaifulloh

Subs:  Davit Ariyanto,  Daniel Tata,  Wasyiat Hasbullah, Alex Da Silva De Souza,  Hasan Basri Lohy, Rasyid Assahid Bakri,  M. Rahmat

Barito Putera Adhitya Harlan;  Fathul Rachman,  M. Aswar Syamsuddin,  Mohammadou Al Hadji Adamou,  Muhamad Roby;  Amirul Mukminin,  Hansamu Yama Pranata,  Ibrahim Conteh,  Lucky Wahyu,  Paulo Oktavianus Sitanggang;  Luis Junior

Subs:  Imam Arief Fadilah,  Adam Alis Setyano,  Agi Pratama,  Ichsan Pratama,  Yongky Aribowo

Bali United v Semen Padang 2-1 (Byung-Gun Ahn, M. Novianto; Vendry Mofu) 10,003

Bali United  Rully Desrian;  Ahn Byung Keon,  Bobby Satria,  Kiko Insa,  Hasim Kipuw,  Ricky Fajrin;  Fadhil Sausu,  Hendra Sandi Gunawan,  Lucas Patinho;  I Nyoman Sukarja,  Yabes Roni Malaifani

Subs:  Ngurah Komang Arya Perdana,  Felisianus Junius R. Bate, I Nyoman Adi Parwa,  Loudry Meilana Setiawan,  Syakir Sulaiman,  I Made Adi Wirahadi,  Martinus Novianto Ardhi

Semen Padang Jandia Eka Putra;  Agung Prasetyo,  Handi Ramdhan,  Hengki Ardiles,  Satrio Syam; Vendry Mofu,  Paulo Diego Messias, Irsyad Maulana;  Marcel Silva Sacramento,  Muhammad Nur Iskandar,  Riko Simanjuntak

Subs:  Rivky Mokodompit,  Fandry Imbiri,  Novan Setya Sasongko,  Novrianto,  Defri Rizki, Mekan Nasyrov,  Rudi

Persiba v Persib 1-1 (Shohei Matsunaga; Vladimir Vujovic) 4,000 

Bima Sakti showed where is priorities lay. While some of his colleagues who trained in Italy 20 odd years back were going through their paces against a bunch of retired ex Serie A players in Jakarta Bima made his first appearance of the season for Persiba as he and coach Jaino Matos jiggled things about after a shot shy start to the season. Out went Okta Maniani and Rehel and in came Vincius for his first start of the season.

 After 306 minutes Persiba celebrated their first goal of the season, a penalty by Matsunaga. Vujovic nicked a late point for Persib, his second of the season to leave Persib fans to pour out their rage and scorn on social media. Six points from four games, two points behind leaders Mitra Kukar, things could be much worse.

And they may get worse before they get better for Belencoso. Just one goal since he arrived in Indonesia packing a big reputation he will be looking nervously at new signing Sergio van Dijk when they meet in training next week.

As for Persiba. Another game, another opponent sent to hospital. This time Robertino is checking out the medical services and falling foul of Persibas alleged hard tactics. He follows Aang Supraman, Cristian Gonales and Dendi Santoso who have received serious injuries after playing the Honey bears. The nickname may be cuddly but the play ain't! Still, let's keep fining clubs 'cos fans set off flares inside stadiums eh? Let's not worry too much about career threatening tackles.

Persiba  Alfonsius Kelvan;  Abdul Aziz Lutfi Akbar,  Abdul Rahman, Absor Fauzi,  Dirkir Kohn Glay,  Iqbal Samad;  Bima Sakti,  Kurniawan Karman,  Shohei Matsunaga;  Heri Susanto,  Vinicius Dos Santos Ries

Subs: Yoewanto Stya Beny,  Asep Budi Santoso,  Fengky Turnando,  Gidion Victor Way,  Oktovianus Maniani,  Siswanto, Ahmad Ihwan

Persib  I Made Wirawan;  Dias Angga Putra,  Purwoko Yudi,  Tony Sucipto,  Vladimir Vujovic; David Laly,  Hariono,  Kim Jeffrey Kurniawan,  Robertino Pugliara;  Juan Belencoso,  Tantan

Subs: M. Natshir Fadhil Mahbuby,  Hermawan,  Muhammad Agung Pribadi,  Atep,  Taufiq, Samsul Arif Munip,  Yandi Sopyan Munawar

Labels: Arema, Bali United, Madura United, Mitra Kukar, Persiba, Pusamania, Semen Padang

Pusamania v Persiba 1-0 (Jefry Kurniawan) 2,541

This wasn't really a football match. Yes it was an East Kalimantan derby so we would expect fireworks. Unfortunately there were too many fireworks on the pitch for this to be an enjoyable game of football. The first half was crap, second half marginally better but when you consider the involvement of two icons of the game, Pnaryo Astaman on the field for Pusamania and Bima Sakti in the dug out for Persiba we expected better.

We are lucky there weren't more casualties other than the game of football. Pusamania's Aang Suparman got taken to hospital after being kicked in the header; the offender received a mere yellow for his actions while Aang is still in hospital with 11 stitches in his head.

Persiba are quickly earning a reputation for being tough opponents. In their first away game against Arema the home side had used all their subs by 46 minutes and Cristian Gonzales and Dedi Santoso face lengthy absences. Now this battle. 

There is nothing wrong with being pysical and tough to play against but match officials need to take a stronger line with perennial offenders from the first minute. Brandish a red early doors and we may see a football match break out. Don't and we get a battle with resentments bubbling under for the whole game. Persiba felt the need to withdraw Ledi Utomo as he carried an early yellow card with him for most of the game making him less effective.

Maybe Persiba feel they need to impose themselves on other sides. Which is a shame because in Sohei Matsunaga they have one of the finest players of the season so far yet he seems an uncomfortable fit among the more physical elements of his team. Up front Persiba to all intents and purposes don't exist. Okta Maniani was anonymous again save for a last minute free kick the underworked Dian saved at the near post.

Pusamania probably deserved their first win of the season and the only goal of the game certainly deserved a better stage, sub Jefri Kurniawan showing a neat first touch in the box to drive home past the decent looking Alfonsius. But it was like a flower in a desert. A memorable goal in a forgettable game.

Labels: Persela, Persiba, Persija, Pusamania

Persiba v Sriwijaya 0-0 5,274

You know that pressing game that is all the rage in England? None of that here as both sides were content to sit deep and let sides come on to them. Persiba started the game with an all Indonesian strike force with Okta Maniani and Rahel Radiansyah starting up front and while they were quick and mobile as you would expect they were well marshalled by the visitors' defence.

Okta has a reputation as a bit of a one trick pony, using his pace to cover up other alleged failings and this performance in this game did little to counter that argument. Instead it was Japanese midfielder Shohei Matsunaga who shone but his good work and good passes were to no avail in teh absence of a striker who had the physical presence to win the ball and hold on to it.

While Persiba dominated the ball Sriwijaya keeper Teja Paku Alam did well in goal while in front his defenders moved quickly to cut out any nascent danger. It wasn't until the 80th minute when Persiba coach Jaino Matos replaced Okta with Vinicius that the home side were able to add a bit of guile to their pace but by then the game was all but over. Sriwijaya had long since had the measure of Persiba and deserved their point.

Two tough away games for Sriwijaya and two points is not a bad start to the season for coach Widodo Cahyo Putro and his players have until Sunday to recharge their batteries when they will face another test of their credentials. They host Madura United.


Madura United v Arema 0-0 12,500

This was brutal! Like them games in the school playground it was harem scarem for the whole 90 minutes and if there was a surprise there was just one red card, for Arema's Hendro Siswanto in the second half.

Going into the game the news from Arema was all about those who would be absent. Cristian Gonzales, Dendi Santoso who were injured against Persiba last weekend and of course Aremania who were asked not to travel for fear of disturbances as they passed through Surabaya. 

It may have been reckless and breathless but there were some gems. For Madura United Slamet Nurchayo and Bayu Batra impressed, the latter's surging runs causing problems for a back pedalling Arema defence. And at the heart of the Madura body was the experienced Fabiano Beltrame putting in the kind of shift that has made him one of the most sought after foreign players in the country.

With the single terrace packed with a large baying crowd and fans spilling on to the running track the atmosphere was as wild and passionate as you can get; just as well there were no away fans!

Arema weren't their to provide cannon fodder and a 35 yard free kick from skipper Hamka Hamzah stung the finger tips of Heri Prasetya in the Madura goal. But up front Aussie striker Gustavo Giron struggled to make an impact as the Madura defence did their job solidly and physically. That Arema could leave with a point was down to the heroics of Meiga Kurnia in goal for them who turned in a man of the match performance, single handedly keeping the home team at bay.

Given the playground feel of the game it was appropriate the game should have been held up twice; first because an Arema free kick tore the net open and second when Srdan Lopicic's shirt was tirn and needed replacing. 

Not one for the Wenger style purist but loads of fun if a tad too physical! While I enjoyed it Arema coach Milomir Seslija was less impressed. After the  game he said the ref had 'protected' the Madura players while letting the Arema players 'die' on the field. Milomir also touched upon the build up to the game, trying to stay anonymous in a Surabaya hotel and travelling to Madura in an armoured personnel carrier and the fear factor for his team. 

Two games into the season and Arema have faced two strong, physical opponents. They have come out of it with four points and share top spot at least temporarily with Madura United but at some cost with Gonzales and Dendi facing lengthy absences. At least they get a good break between games. Next Sunday they host BS United...

Labels: Arema, Aremania, Baya Gatra, Madura United, Meiga Kurnia, Okta Maniani, Persiba, Shohei Matsunaga, Slamet Nurchayo, Sriwijaya

Bali United v Pusamania Borneo 1-1 (Nemanja Vidakovic; OG) 7,230

Two clubs borne from one club, Persisam Putra, put on a decent show that was not without controversy in Bali yesterday. It was the home team that took the lead, Vidakovic's spectacular effort from outside the box leaving Dian Agus grasping for thin air. Defender Kiko Insa later put through his own goal attempting to clear a corner.

It's fair to say Pusamania deserved the draw but it could have been three points had Tarik Boschetti not missed an open goal from a few yards out, his header going wide.

The experienced Gerald Pangkali was red carded for a reckless challenge on the edge of the penalty area. A guy who has been round the block a bit, he should have known better than to go for such a tackle in such a dangerous area; some refs would have given a penalty as well. Moments later and it was Zulkifli doing something similar but this time he just received a yellow.

Things got a bit hot towards the end of the second half with Bali United pressing for the winner. Another silly challenge, this time by Sandi in the middle of the field saw the ref brandish yellow again prompting angry scenes in the Pusamania dugout with coach Dragan Djukanovic giving thematch officials a piece of his mind. 

Bali fans in the main stand responded by throwing plastic water bottles at the dug out and one Pusamania 'official' was seen throwing one back in the crowd. It was all handbags really but at the end of the day while Pusamania will be glad to have left with a point after playing much of the game with 10 men it will be a concern to see some poor decision making at the back that could have cost them the game.

Labels: Arema, Bali United, Indonesian Football, ISC, Madura United, Persiba, PS TNI, Pusamania Borneo