Matchday 1 of the 2022/23 Liga 1 Indonesia season kicked-off on Saturday with four matches across four stadiums, as fans return to the stadiums to watch league matches for the first time since the start of the pandemic after a successful trial run during the Piala Presiden pre-season tournament. Whilst the match between Bali United and Persija Jakarta at the Kapten I Wayan Dipta Stadium was preceded by the league’s opening ceremony, Saturday’s highlight was undoubtedly the earlier match between Madura United and Barito Putera at the Gelora Ratu Pamelingan Stadium, where the former completely thrashed the latter 8-0.
A deflected long-ranged shot from Ricki Ariansyah gave Madura United the lead in the 21st minute, before the Laskar Sapeh Kerrab made it 2-0 just one minute afterwards through Lulinha. Veteran striker Beto Goncalves made it 3-0 with a thumping header after 30 minutes, before Malik Risaldi ensured Madura United’s lead at the stroke of half-time.
With Madura United commanding a 4-0 advantage coming into the second stanza, the hosts did not gave a hapless Barito any mercy after the restart. Barito’s defensive midfielder Luthfi Kamal inadvertently bundled a Risaldi attempt into his own net only seconds into the second half, setting up the tone for what’s to come for the Laskar Antasari.
Lulinha completed his hat-trick with his goals in the 51st and 87th minutes, before former Timor-Leste U-23 international Pedro Henrique put Barito out of their misery with Madura United’s eighth goal of the night in the second minute of injury-time.
The huge win meant that Madura United became the early pace-setters of the Liga 1 season, sitting nicely on top of the league by virtue of their healthy goal difference. By contrast, Dejan Antonic’s Barito were rooted to the bottom of the league, with the Serbian head coach facing an arduous task to improve his squad’s tactics and morale before Matchweek 2.
This season’s Liga 1 opening match saw PSIS Semarang playing out a 1-1 draw with RANS Nusantara FC at the Jatidiri Stadium, in a match that saw newly-promoted RANS Nusantara wearing a modified version of their kits from last season due to both their new home and away kits clashing with those of PSIS’ and the Prestige Phoenix having neglected to bring their third kits for this season with them.
Two goals from captain Wiljan Pluim helped PSM Makassar to a 2-1 win away at PSS Sleman, while a first-half header from Willian Pacheco was enough for Bali United to see off Persija 1-0.
Matchweek 1 continues on Sunday with the repeat of this season’s Piala Presiden final as Borneo Samarinda host Arema FC at the Segiri Stadium, while Bhayangkara FC welcome Persib Bandung to the Wibawa Mukti Stadium in Cikarang.