Southeast Asia Indonesia

Round of 16 Bracket Begins to Fill in Piala Indonesia

The Kratingdaeng Piala Indonesia 2018-2019, or Indonesian Cup, entered the second leg phase last week. Several clubs from the top-flight competition, Liga 1, went through the Last 16 Round which will be held later next month. However, some matches delayed due to several problems, ranging from the security issues to waterlogged pitches.

There are two matches on Sunday, as PSM Makassar took on Kalteng Putra and Persita Tangerang faced Arema FC. New Finnish striker, Eero Markannen, scored the only goal for PSM while Singo Edan managed a 3-0 victory over Persita, adding to their impressive 4-1 win in the first leg.

PSM and Arema steps followed the previous Liga 1 clubs who already qualified for the next stage: Persija Jakarta, Bhayangkara FC, PS TIRA, PSS Sleman, Bali United and Persela Lamongan.

Cameroonian-born striker, Herman Dzumafo has become the competition’s top scorer with 6 goals after bagging a brace in Bhayangkara’s 4-3 win against PBSL Langsa.

On Monday, an all Liga 1 clash between Mitra Kutai Kartanegara and Perseru Serui finished 4-1 in favor of the visitors, despite a 0-0 draw in the first leg. This result means Perseru are the latest team to add their name to the list for the Last 16.

However, the chart isn’t completed yet, because several second leg matches will be held this week. They include Madura United vs Cilegon United and Borneo FC vs PSMP Mojokerto Putra on Wednesday (6/2), Sriwijaya FC vs PS Keluarga USU on Thursday (7/2) and Persipura Jayapura vs Persidago Gorontalo on Friday (8/2).

The game between Persib Bandung and Persiwa Wamena match, which was originally meant to be held on Saturday, was postponed as the home side didn’t have a police permit for infrastructure security factors on their home, the Gelora Bandung Lautan Api. Maung Bandung, who previously played out a 0-0 in the first leg, really need the win to follow their fellow big clubs into the next stage.

Meanwhile, there are two ties that are yet to even play their first leg matches, with the games between Persibat Batang vs PSIS Semarang and Persinga Ngawi against Persebaya Surabaya still awaiting their opportunity to begin.

Persibat’s home, the Moh. Sarengat Stadium, wasn’t able to host the first-leg due to flooding, while Persinga also failed to get a police permit to hold the match in Ketonggo Stadium. Well, there’s a lot of time to finish the matches either on the neutral place, since the Liga 1 2019 season won’t kick off until May.