Bali United have pulled themselves closer to defending their Liga 1 Indonesia title after edging out Arema FC 2-1 in Tuesday’s Matchweek 31 action. Having gone behind first at the Ngurah Rai Stadium, the Serdadu Tridatu managed to salvage all three points thanks to an own goal and a late penalty, further increasing their title chances with only three games left to go in the season.
Carlos Fortes had given a faltering Arema – who had lost three of their last four games having previously gone 23 matches unbeaten – the lead with a 33rd minute penalty that was given following a foul within the area by Jean Befolo Mbarga.
However, two minutes before half-time, Bali United managed to level things up after an Ilija Spasojevic shot was inadvertently directed into Adilson Maringa’s goal by longtime Arema servant Dendi Santoso.
Bali United then received a penalty of their own in the first minute of injury time after Fabiano Beltrame had fouled Irfan Jaya within the area. Brwa Nouri was entrusted with taking the spot-kick and the former Ostersunds FK player did not disappoint, scoring his first-ever goal for the Serdadu Tridatu that clinched all three points for Stefano Cugurra Teco’s men.
Defeat meant that Arema’s title chances went from very likely to going completely down the drain in a space of only a few weeks, while for Bali United, the three points kept them above second-placed Persib Bandung for at least another matchweek, with the Maung Bandung also winning their Matchweek 31 game, a 3-2 triumph over Madura United on Sunday.
With only three more games to go in the season, Persib knows that even the smallest of slip-ups means that they are effectively handing the Liga 1 title on a silver platter to Bali United.
Bhayangkara FC will seek to pull themselves closer to both Bali United and Persib with a win over fallen giants Persipura Jayapura on Wednesday, while Persebaya Surabaya also saw their title chances being ended in Matchweek 31 thanks to a 1-1 draw with strugglers PS Barito Putera.