Karo United became the first team to qualify to this season’s Liga 3 Indonesia final after overcoming provincial rivals PSDS Deli Serdang in Saturday’s semifinal at the Gelora Delta Stadium in Sidoarjo. The win also meant that Karo United have avenged their defeat in the 2021 Liga 3 North Sumatra regional competition, where the Laskar Simbisa lost 3-0 to PSDS in the tournament’s semifinal.
The meeting between the two North Sumatra rivals came to life in the second half after a goalless 45 minutes. Karo United were awarded a penalty in the 54th minute after one of their players was fouled by PSDS player Rifki Wahyudi within the area. The Laskar Simbisa‘s top-scorer, Kardinata Tarigan, was tasked with dispatching the spot-kick, which he did excellently to give Karo United the lead.
PSDS, who had Egy Maulana Vikri’s older brother Yusrizal Muzakki amongst their ranks, were forced to play with 10 men in the 64th minute after Wahyudi was shown a second yellow card following a foul on a Karo United player.
Seizing the numerical advantage, Karo United doubled their lead in the 67th minute after a powerful Muhammad Putra Agung shot made its way into the PSDS goal.
PSDS managed to pull one back in the 78th minute, however, much to Traktor Kuning‘s disappointment, the goal was chalked off for offside.
Throughout the match, both Karo United and PSDS displayed relentless, physical style of play, a hallmark of North Sumatran teams.
Karo United will take on the winners of Sunday’s semifinal between Putra Delta Sidoarjo and Mataram Utama in the Liga 3 final on March 30th.