Indonesian champions PSM Makassar finally got their AFC Cup campaign up and running with a confident 3-1 win over Singapore’s Hougang United at the Kapten I Wayan Dipta Stadium on Wednesday.
The Juku Eja had ended a 5-game losing run in all competitions – which includes thrashings in the AFC Cup at the hands of Vietnamese side Hai Phong FC and Malaysian representatives Sabah FC – with a comfortable 3-0 win over Arema FC in the Liga 1 Indonesia on October 20th, and Bernardo Tavares’ men showed more of the same as they host Hougang in Gianyar.
Despite without suspended goalkeeper Reza Arya Pratama and the injured Yakob Sayuri, PSM took the lead in the 22nd minute. A free-kick from Dzaky Asraf was headed towards the Hougang goal by Yuran Fernandes, with the ball being poked beyond Zaiful Nizam’s reaches by Safrudin Tahar.
Seven minutes later saw PSM extending their lead. Yuran skillfully controlled the ball with his chest, then deftly maneuvered past the defense, delivering a left-footed shot into the bottom corner.
Despite Everton Nascimento and Adilson Silva’s attempts, PSM were unable to extend their lead even further, which gave Hougang the chance to grow their presence into the game. The Cheetahs even had a chance at goal before half-time – Nazrul Nazari’s long-range shot was thwarted by stand-in goalkeeper Muhammad Ardiansyah.
PSM’s dominance persisted after the break. Lanky Cape Verdean defender Yuran saw his effort being thwarted by Zaiful in the 46th minute, and Adilson’s follow-up attempt was gathered by the goalkeeper. Adilson’s frustration continued in the 54th minute when Zaiful made a crucial save to his left.
However, a minute later, the Indonesian champions increased their lead as Portuguese striker Adilson, much criticized for his lengthy dry spells throughout the season, cut inside from the left, unleashing a deflected shot that found the back of the net.
Hougang’s Djordje Maksimovic converted a penalty 12 minutes from the end, courtesy of a foul by Andy Harjito on Hazzuwan Halim. Despite this, it wasn’t enough to initiate a comeback for the Singaporean team, and PSM secured the victory that kept their hopes of qualifying out of the group alive.