A string of saves from Brazilian goalkeeper Adilson Maringa coupled with an excellent defensive display helped Arema FC to their third Piala Presiden title. Taking on Borneo Samarinda in the second leg of the 2022 final at the Segiri Stadium on Sunday, Arema managed to withstand the hosts’ pressure to see out their first leg win and successfully defend the title that they’ve won back in 2019.
A solitary goal from new Bissau-Guinean striker Abel Camara was enough for Arema to seal a 1-0 win over Borneo in the final’s first leg back in Thursday at the Kanjuruhan Stadium, however the real test was when the Singo Edan travel to Samarinda for the second leg on Sunday.
With a hostile atmosphere from the home crowd surrounding them, Arema’s sizeable contingent of away supporters meant that they were playing like it’s home away from home, weathering every pressure that Borneo threw at them.
The likes of Leo Guntara, Terens Puhiri, Agung Prasetyo and Jonathan Bustos tried their luck in breaching the Arema defense, however Borneo’s profligacy, combined with Maringa’s performance between the Singo Edan sticks and a captain-worthy performance from Johan Alfarizi in helping out the defense, meant that the first half ended in a goalless stalemate – a result that benefits Arema due to their win in the first leg.
The second stanza saw more of the same, Arema shutting up shop while Borneo tried their best in prying open the Singo Edan. But despite their efforts, the Pesut Etam were unable to find their way into the Arema goal, even with eight minutes worth of injury time. The match devolved slightly into physical bust-ups between players from the two teams during the closing stage of the match, but nonetheless Arema managed to defend their first leg lead and earn themselves their third Piala Presiden title.
For his goalkeeping heroics in the final – and indeed throughout the tournament – Maringa was rightfully awarded the Player of the Tournament prize by the Piala Presiden organizers.
Arema’s victory sent everyone in the city and regency of Malang into euphoria. Having initially doubted the Singo Edan due to their opening day defeat at the hands of PSM Makassar in the group stages, their patience and faith towards Arema were well-rewarded. Thousands of Arema supporters are planning to welcome the team en masse once they arrived back from Samarinda, providing the Singo Edan with the hero’s welcome that they deserved after their efforts throughout the Piala Presiden.