The current top two teams of the 2023/24 Liga 1 Indonesia season go head-to-head on Sunday as league leaders Madura United take on second-placed Borneo FC Samarinda at the Gelora Ratu Pamelingan Stadium in Pamekasan, with the winners of the tie being guaranteed the league’s summit for at least one matchweek. In the end, a fatal error by Madura United goalkeeper Wawan Hendrawan helped Borneo to a 2-1 win, allowing the Pesut Etam to hijack pole position at the Laskar Sapeh Kerrab‘s expense.
The game itself was quite well-balanced and evenly-matched, with both Madura United and Borneo exchanging attack after attack, however, the latter were more clinical with their finishing.
Pieter Huistra’s Borneo side took the lead in the 29th minute after a Stefano Lilipaly pass was rifled into Wawan’s goal by Terens Puhiri. Former Bali United goalie Wawan had actually got a hand on Terens’ incoming shot, but the ball was struck with so much force it slipped past the veteran goalkeeper’s grasp and into the goal.
Five minutes before half-time, Madura United managed to drew themselves level. A Novan Sasongko ball was unable to be cleared away properly by Borneo defender Leo Guntara, allowing Akbar Tuharea to rifle in a shot past Nadeo Argawinata in the Pesut Etam goal.
The two teams proceeded to exchange blows once again in the second half, with Madura United intensifying their assault on the Borneo defense as they chased after that elusive winning goal.
However, disaster struck the Laskar Sapeh Kerrab five minutes from time after Wawan had fumbled a Fachrudin Aryanto back-pass, allowing Lilipaly all the time and space in the world to fire home Borneo’s winning goal.
Borneo’s third win in a row sent the Pesut Etam top of the Liga 1 with 28 points from 14 games. Madura United, on the other hand, slipped down to 2nd, a point behind the new league leaders.