When Matias Mier arrived at Bhayangkara FC in the 2022/23 Liga 1 Indonesia mid-season transfer window, he came with little fanfare to his name and with little experience outside his native South America. Fast-forward a few weeks later and Uruguayan attacking midfielder Mier found himself as the current form player of the Liga 1, as his impressive performances week-in-week-out might have single-handedly saved Bhayangkara from a relegation dogfight.
Having never finished outside the top five of the Liga 1 table, Bhayangkara found themselves in a real pickle this season as they unexpectedly participated in this season’s fight against relegation. Underneath the stewardship of Widodo C. Putro, Bhayangkara flopped spectacularly as the Indonesian Police-backed club flirted with the bottom three a number of times throughout this season.
However, the mid-season transfer window saw the Guardian perform some shrewd recruitment and released their underperforming players, and their performance improved gradually.
One of Bhayangkara’s new signings was 32-year old Mier, who was brought in from Colombian top-flight side Independiente Santa Fe. The winger had mostly spent his career in South America, bouncing between his native Uruguay, Chile, and Colombia, even playing alongside current Liverpool star Darwin Nunez at Uruguayan giants Penarol back in 2017. A short stint at Qatari side Muaither back in 2016 was Mier’s only stint abroad prior to his move to Bhayangkara, a stint that saw him only play twice and scored zero goals.
Mier took the Liga 1 like duck to water, however, and he scored in his debut, a 34th minute penalty in a 2-1 defeat away at Persebaya Surabaya back in January 23rd.
Mier then scored again in his second match, the equalizing goal in a 1-1 home draw with Dewa United on January 28th, before scoring his third goal in three games in the following game, a 3-1 win away at Persis Solo on February 2nd.
The win wasn’t enough to save Widodo’s already precarious position and the former Bali United and Persita Tangerang head coach was sacked after the match with Persis. That did not stop Bhayangkara’s mini-revival and the Guardian won their very first game without Widodo, a thrilling 3-2 home win over Persikabo 1973 where, you guessed it, Mier scored his fourth Liga 1 goal.
Persita put a slight bump on Bhayangkara’s rise up the league table with a 1-0 win on February 11th, however five days later the Guardian were back at it again, this time shockingly beating title contenders Persija Jakarta 2-1 at the Wibawa Mukti Stadium in Cikarang, Bekasi Regency. And surprise, surprise, Mier was on the scoresheet yet again, scoring a 51st minute penalty to equalize the scoring after Hanno Behrens’ 20th minute opener, before Brazilian striker Alex – another mid-season signing from Bhayangkara who was also in form – slammed home the winner in injury time.
Bhayangkara then won their next two games against opposition from the top-half of the table – a 4-0 home thrashing of Madura United and a 3-1 win away at Borneo FC Samarinda. And as expected, Mier contributed his goals in those two games – scoring once against the Laskar Sapeh Kerrab and scoring twice against the Pesut Etam.
This purple patch of form meant that Bhayangkara are currently eighth on the Liga 1 table on 35 points, six points off Borneo FC in sixth place and a good 13 points above the relegation places.
Bhayangkara’s next league match will be on March 1st, with PSIS Semarang visiting the Wibawa Mukti. It’s safe to say, in his red-hot form, Mier would be more than happy to sink his jaws into the Mahesa Jenar as Bhayangkara seek to extend their excellent run and continue their rise up the league table.