Madura United were made to work hard for their win on Tuesday, eking out a 2-1 win over PS Sleman to open their 2021 Menpora Cup campaign at the Si Jalak Harupat Stadium in Soreang, Bandung Regency, West Java. The Laskar Sapeh Kerrab went behind in the first half after Irfan Jaya scored his first goal for the Super Elja, however two goals in the second half from Kevy Syahertian and Jaimerson Xavier earned Madura United all three points, giving them pole position in Group C.
Serbian head coach Dejan Antonic led his PSS troops out to the Si Jalak Harupat pitch as they seek to start their Menpora Cup campaign with a bang, as the Sleman-based club take on Dejan’s former club in Madura United. The Super Elja showed off what they can do in the 11th minute, when an Irkham Mila cross was unable to be cleared away on time by a Madura United defender. Much to the relief of Madura United goalkeeper Muhammad Ridho, an incoming Irfan was unable to latch onto the ball properly and thus the ball went behind for a goal-kick.
There was no denying former Persebaya Surabaya man Irfan in the 19th minute though, as his sublime free-kick from outside the area blazed its way above the Madura United wall and into Ridho’s goal, smacking the left goalpost on its way in. 1-0 to PSS, a scoreline that stayed that way into half-time.
During half-time Madura United head coach Rahmad Darmawan made some changes to his squad, introducing Brazilian playmaker Hugo Gomes into the mix as well as switching from a 3-5-2 to a 4-1-4-1 formation. As a result, Madura United’s performance sparked into life and they managed to restore parity in the 67th minute. A back-pass from Asyraq Ghufron was poorly-received by PSS goalkeeper Ega Rizky, enabling Kevy to seize onto the loose ball and fire home Madura United’s equalizer.
Ega was beaten for a second time in the 87th minute, this time former Persija Jakarta defender Jaimerson swung in a cannonball of a free-kick that turned the game around in the Laskar Sapeh Kerrab‘s favor. Madura United then clung onto their slender lead tightly for the remainder of the game, allowing them to emerge out of the match as 2-1 victors over their understandably stunned and disappointed opponents.
Group C’s other match saw three penalties being scored as Persebaya edged out East Java rivals Persik Kediri 2-1 at the Si Jalak Harupat, with veteran striker Samsul Arif scoring a brace for the Bajul Ijo. The win allowed Persebaya to accompany Suramadu Derby rivals Madura United at the summit of Group C.
Wednesday sees the final set of matches for the Menpora Cup’s first matchweek, with Group D playing out their two matches at the Maguwoharjo Stadium in Sleman, Special Region of Yogyakarta. Persiraja Banda Aceh will take on Persita Tangerang in the early kick-off, before the late match sees Bali United squaring off against Persib Bandung.