Jakarta Casual
Saturday, March 29, 2014
Messi Guides Persiram's Flying Start
Persiram are one of those teams that perennially operate beneath the radar. No one expects them to do anything except perhaps get relegated.
But at the first break of the ISL season, they are one of only four teams to remain unbeaten (Persija, Persipura and Arema are the others).
Coached by Jaya Hartono, their opening games have seen them win three and draw three, a run that sees them second in the eastern division.
Despite being based in the diving heaven of Raja Ampat, Persiram are playing their homes games at Maguwarharjo Stadium in Sleman, one of the nicest grounds in the country.
Their first home game of the season can't have enthused many in the attendance of 243...drawing 0-0 with Persiba Balikpapan,
Next came the short trip to Bantul, just the other side of Yogyakarta and Messi scored the only goal of the game to earn Persiram the three points in front of a crowd of 7,000.
Persebaya went into the season among the favourites after investing huge amounts of cash on players like Nwokolo and Kenmogne and recruiting Rahmad Darmawan. But humble Persiram soon shut up the Persebaya hardcore support, and I do mean hardcore because only 1,543 turned up at the cavernous Bung Tomo Stadium.
The wonderfully named Errol Ethicus Simunapendi gave the visitors the lead before Nwokolo equalised just short of the hour mark.
They played PSM in Surabaya, two rootless teams going head to head in a stadium distant from their homes. They drew 1-1, Messi with a last minute penalty cancelling out Ponaryo Astaman's spot kick but the crowd was 200!
If the draw against Persebaya didnt make people sit up and take notice then what came next surely did. Ambitious Mitra Kukar defeated 2-0, Messi's third goal of the season while Osas Marvellous netted his first.It was their second home game of the season and the fans must have been impressed by Persiram's start to the campaign...a whopping 247 saw the defeat of the leaders.
The fans' joy must have been short lived. Only 79 bothered watching the next game against Putra Samarinda. The stayaways missed a Messi penalty, seven Persiram players yellow carded and one, Elvis Herawan, sent off.
But at the first break of the ISL season, they are one of only four teams to remain unbeaten (Persija, Persipura and Arema are the others).
Coached by Jaya Hartono, their opening games have seen them win three and draw three, a run that sees them second in the eastern division.
Despite being based in the diving heaven of Raja Ampat, Persiram are playing their homes games at Maguwarharjo Stadium in Sleman, one of the nicest grounds in the country.
Their first home game of the season can't have enthused many in the attendance of 243...drawing 0-0 with Persiba Balikpapan,
Next came the short trip to Bantul, just the other side of Yogyakarta and Messi scored the only goal of the game to earn Persiram the three points in front of a crowd of 7,000.
Persebaya went into the season among the favourites after investing huge amounts of cash on players like Nwokolo and Kenmogne and recruiting Rahmad Darmawan. But humble Persiram soon shut up the Persebaya hardcore support, and I do mean hardcore because only 1,543 turned up at the cavernous Bung Tomo Stadium.
The wonderfully named Errol Ethicus Simunapendi gave the visitors the lead before Nwokolo equalised just short of the hour mark.
They played PSM in Surabaya, two rootless teams going head to head in a stadium distant from their homes. They drew 1-1, Messi with a last minute penalty cancelling out Ponaryo Astaman's spot kick but the crowd was 200!
If the draw against Persebaya didnt make people sit up and take notice then what came next surely did. Ambitious Mitra Kukar defeated 2-0, Messi's third goal of the season while Osas Marvellous netted his first.It was their second home game of the season and the fans must have been impressed by Persiram's start to the campaign...a whopping 247 saw the defeat of the leaders.
The fans' joy must have been short lived. Only 79 bothered watching the next game against Putra Samarinda. The stayaways missed a Messi penalty, seven Persiram players yellow carded and one, Elvis Herawan, sent off.
Labels: Messi, Persiram, Sleman
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
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
