Dewa United continued their unbeaten run underneath new head coach Jan Olde Riekerink after they had seen off local rivals Persita Tangerang 3-2 at the Indomilk Arena in Sunday’s Liga 1 Indonesia action.
The second edition of the Tangerang Raya Derby kicked-off Matchweek 20, with Tangerang Regency’s Persita facing off against South Tangerang’s Dewa United at the Indomilk Arena, which was shared between the two sides.
Both sides came into the derby with contrasting fortunes -Persita were winless in their last four matches, the last of which being a 5-0 humiliation at home at the hands of Persebaya Surabaya. Dewa United, on the other hand, are experiencing a new head coach bounce as they were unbeaten in the two matches overseen by former Galatasaray gaffer Riekerink.
Persita started off the match at a sparsely-filled Indomilk Arena with some intent, with new signing Hanis Saghara and Ramiro Fergonzi testing Muhammad Natshir in the Dewa United goal.
Former Bhayangkara FC and Persipura Jayapura man Fergonzi then broke the deadlock in the 21st minute after the Argentine had headed in a Muhammad Toha cross into Natshir’s goal.
Dewa United roared back and drew level in the 35th minute, with Karim Rossi latching onto a Natanael Siringoringo ball and firing home past Persita goalie Dede Sulaiman.
Majed Osman then scored what arguably was the goal of the game, with the Dewa United midfielder blasting a powerful cannonball from distance that left Dede utterly beaten.
The Tangsel Warriors then cushioned their lead four minutes into the second half, with former Stoke City striker Rossi completing his brace with a well-taken shot from close range.
Bae Sin-yeong gave Persita a glimmer of hope in the 67th minute with the Pendekar Cisadane‘s second goal of the game, however Dewa United held on for the three important points and bragging rights in the Tangerang Raya Derby.
The derby win meant that Dewa United had won consecutive games for the first time this season, sitting in 13th place. Persita, on the other hand, are 10th, slowly tumbling down the standings after threatening the top half of the league table throughout the first half of the season.
Matchweek 20 continues on Monday with Persebaya hosting Bhayangkara at the Gelora Joko Samudro in Gresik while Persis Solo took on Persikabo 1973 at the Maguwoharjo Stadium in Sleman.