Steven Danis
Football Tribe Indonesia
Gameweek 23 of the 2019 Liga 1 started on Friday night, with five matches played including two big matches between Persib Bandung and Persebaya Surabaya at the Kapten I Wayan Dipta Stadium in Gianyar, Bali, while Borneo FC took on leaders Bali United at Samarinda’s Segiri Stadium. Pesut Etam managed to surprise everyone by beating Serdadu Tridatu, not by one, not by two, but by six unanswered goals!
Bali United were without two key players, Irfan Bachdim and Stefano Lilipaly, who were called up by the Indonesian national team, however, they welcomed Ricky Fajrin and Wawan Hendrawan back into the squad. Up top, Ilija Spasojevic and Melvin Platje are ready to tear defenses apart as usual, meaning that Bali United head coach Stefano Cugurra Teco has the luxury of most of his players to choose from at Segiri.
Borneo FC are looking confident themselves, being unbeaten in their last 6 matches. Mario Gomez’s men were interestingly last beaten by Bali United, with a 2-1 reverse at the Dipta triggering their unbeaten run. Revenge was on the cards for Borneo FC at the Segiri and buoyed on by their fervent supporters, Pesut Etam went on the offensive. But the hosts must wait until the 34th minute to open the scoreline, courtesy of ex-Bali United player Lerby Eliandry.
It wasn’t until the second half that Borneo FC showed their ruthlessness. A quick-fire salvo from Renan Silva and Terens Puhiri in the 55th and 60th minute respectively made it 3-0, while the last 15 minutes saw poor Wawan Hendrawan picking up the ball from his net three more times. Renan completed his brace with a strike in the 75th minute, before Rifal Lastori made it 5-0 ten minutes later. Terens himself got his own brace in injury time, ensuring Bali United’s third and heaviest defeat of the season.
Security issues relating to the christening of the new Indonesian president and vice-president meant that Persib’s home match against Persebaya was played in Bali, the Dipta’s second match this week after Indonesia’s WC qualifier defeat against Vietnam. Febri Haryadi opened the scoreline for Persib in the 31st minute with a low shot from inside the penalty box, before ten minute later a flick from Achmad Jufriyanto, taking advantage of a set piece scheme taken by Persib’s Dutch attacker Kevin van Kippersluis, made it 2-0 Persib.
Kevin himself recorded his name on the score-sheet in the second half, with a sublime free-kick that left Persebaya goalie Miswar Saputra stranded on the hour mark. 3-0 Persib and Maung Bandung looked rampant. However, Bajul Ijo refused to throw the towel just yet, with Diogo Campos making it 3-1 in the 71st minute. Febri would have the last say, however, completing his brace in the 84th minute after a sublime solo run that saw him ran past two Persebaya defenders before firing a shot to the far post that went beyond Miswar. It ends Persib 4-1 Persebaya, a thumping win for Maung Bandung.
On Wednesday, there were two postponed matches that were held at Bekasi and Makassar. The Gameweek 10 match between faltering defending champions Persija Jakarta and relegation-battling Semen Padang was held at the Patriot Chandrabhaga Stadium, and it was a debut to forget for Persija’s new head coach Edson Tavares. The other postponed match, a match between PSM Makassar and Arema FC that was meant to be played during Gameweek 5, ended up being a goal-fest as Juku Eja slaughtered Singo Edan at the Andi Mattalatta Stadium.
Having beaten PSM 2-0 at the Kanjuruhan in their last match earlier this month, Arema came to Makassar with an air of confidence, however, they ended up being at the wrong end of a 6-2 scoreline. Ferdinand Sinaga scored a brace for Juku Eja, while there were goals for Ezra Walian, Rizky Pellu, Mark Klok, and Wiljan Pluim. Dedik Setiawan and Ricky Kayame scored the consolation goals for Arema.
Meanwhile, in Bekasi, Persija took the lead first in the 16th minute thanks to a Marko Simic penalty, but Kabau Sirah stepped up their game in the second half as Vendry Mofu equalized for the away side in the 57th minute. Macan Kemayoran pushed for a winner, but in the end, it was heartbreak for the hosts as Semen Padang snatched victory in injury time thanks to substitute Mariando Uropmabin.
Gameweek 23 Results and Schedule
Friday, 18th October 2019
- Persela Lamongan 0-1 PSIS Semarang
- PSS Sleman 1-0 Kalteng Putra
- Persib Bandung 4-1 Persebaya Surabaya
- PS Barito Putera 4-1 Perseru Badak Lampung FC
- Borneo FC 6-0 Bali United
Saturday, 19th October 2019
- PS TIRA-Persikabo 0-2 Bhayangkara FC
Sunday, 20th October 2019
- Semen Padang vs Madura United 16:00 GMT+7
- PSM Makassar vs Persija Jakarta 18:30 GMT+7
- Persipura Jayapura vs Arema FC 18:30 GMT+7