Liga 1 Indonesia strugglers Persik Kediri continued their revival after beating fellow strugglers Barito Putera 2-0 at the Brawijaya Stadium on Saturday.
Coming into Saturday’s game, Persik were in a good run of form. The Macan Putih had won their last two games, a 5-1 thrashing of last-placed RANS Nusantara FC and a dramatic 3-2 win over Arema FC.
Barito, on the other hand, ended a two-match winless run with a shock 2-1 win over title hopefuls Persib Bandung in their last game.
Acting as hosts, Persik immediately placed Barito underneath immense pressure, with the Laskar Antasari buckling in the 16th minute. A Renan Silva cross was met with a thumping header from Hamra Hehanussa, which went straight into Yoewanto Setya Benny’s goal.
Renan then turned from provider to scorer in the 29th minute, taking advantage of a Flavio da Silva pass to fire home past Yoewanto for Persik’s second.
The second half saw Barito trying to grow themselves into the game whilst Persik went into cruise control as they seek to see the game out.
Barito were forced to finish the match with ten men after Muhamad Firly saw a straight red in the dying minutes of the game after a last-man foul on Persik’s Mohammad Khanafi.
Despite winning all three points, Persik remain in the relegation zone, however they are now just two points behind PSS Sleman in 15th as they move up to 16th. Barito, on the other hand, slid down to 17th, a point behind Persik.