PSM Makassar became the first team to qualify to the 2021 Menpora Cup semifinal after edging out PSIS Semarang 4-2 on penalties in Friday’s quarterfinal match at the Kanjuruhan Stadium. The two sides had played out a goalless draw at a soaking wet Kanjuruhan pitch after 90 minutes and PSM goalkeeper Hilman Syah’s excellent saves early into the shootout ensured a spot in the semifinal for the Juku Eja.
Both PSIS and PSM came into Friday’s quarterfinal with a reputation of eschewing foreign imports in favor of young local talent, with the likes of Pratama Arhan and Yakob Sayuri standing out for their respective team during the group stages. PSM’s progression to the Menpora Cup knockouts can be considered as surprising as they managed to finish above star-studded sides Bhayangkara Solo FC and Borneo FC in the group stages, while the Juku Eja themselves were slapped with a registration ban by FIFA prior to the Menpora Cup due to unpaid wages.
Having scored the most amount of goals in the group stages, PSIS were naturally favorites in this tie and the Mahesa Jenar showed why they deserved that tag as they bombarded Hilman’s goal throughout the first half. Youngster Eka Febri Yogi tested Hilman from distance whilst the likes of Riyan Ardiansyah and captain Hari Nur Yulianto managed to keep 23-year old Hilman up on his toes.
PSM were not without their chances too throughout the first half however they could not produce any significant end product, leaving them unable to threaten Jandia Eka Putra in the PSIS goal.
The match became more lively in the second half as PSM managed to force Jandia into making a number of saves, with the likes of Saldi Amiruddin and Sutanto Tan eliciting some acrobatics from former Semen Padang goalie Jandia. The second half also saw rain pouring down heavily from the skies above to the Kanjuruhan pitch, dampening the pitch significantly and causing players from both sides to slip at critical moments as well as losing the ball easily. This in turn affected the finishing touches of both PSIS and PSM, meaning that after 90 minutes the two sides were unable to find any breakthrough.
Menpora Cup regulations stipulate that should a knockout match ends in a draw after 90 minutes, no extra time will be played and the match will go straight into penalties. PSIS went up first and the Mahesa Jenar sent Pratama to take their first penalty. The youngster had previously scored from the spot in PSIS’ group stage win over Persikabo 1973, however he was unable to repeat his heroics as Hilman produced a strong save to deny the defender.
After Hasyim Kipuw had gotten the better of Jandia in PSM’s first penalty, PSIS sent captain Hari as their second kicker. Unfortunately like his junior Pratama, the 31-year old striker saw his attempt being denied by Hilman.
In the end, Hilman’s two saves proved to be pivotal for PSM as both teams succeeded with their penalties – Alfeandra Dewangga and Fredyan Wahyu managed to beat Hilman to keep PSIS in the game, after the Juku Eja‘s next two takers – Rasyid Bakri and Abdul Rachman – had scored from their attempts. With the scoreline reading 3-2 in PSM’s favor, Sutanto was tasked in dispatching the decisive penalty for the Juku Eja. The former Bali United man made no mistakes from the spot and he managed to beat Jandia with his penalty, earning PSM a ticket to the Menpora Cup semifinal.
PSM will face-off against the winner of the quarterfinal tie between Persija Jakarta and Barito Putera in the semifinal, with the Macan Kemayoran and the Laskar Antasari set to take on one another in the second quarterfinal tie that will be played at the Kanjuruhan on Saturday.