Persib Bandung triumphed over Madura United with a resounding 3-0 victory in the first leg of the 2023/24 Liga 1 Indonesia final at the Si Jalak Harupat Stadium on Sunday. David da Silva proved to be instrumental in establishing the Maung Bandung‘s healthy lead with two goals scored deep within injury time, which provided adequate cushion for Ciro Alves’ 70th minute opener.
The first half of the match was fiercely contested. Persib exerted considerable pressure on Madura United, but the visiting team did not just play defensively. The open play demonstrated by both teams made the match exciting to watch. Both sides had golden opportunities to score in the first half, but none resulted in goals.
With the score still 0-0 at halftime, neither Persib nor Madura United made any changes to their lineup. The match grew even more intense as both teams immediately picked up the pace at the start of the second half.
After 20 minutes into the second half, both teams were still struggling to score. Madura United then made the first move by bringing on three substitutes: Novan Sasongko, Ricki Ariansyah, and Bayu Gatra. Midfield mainstay Jaja was substituted out due to injury.
However, the player changes made by Madura United did not have a positive impact on their performance. Amidst the back-and-forth action, it was Persib who broke the deadlock first. Ciro found a gap on the right side of Madura United’s defense in the 70th minute. Working in tandem with Rachmat Irianto, Ciro spotted Madura United goalkeeper Lucas Frigeri off his line and executed a sublime lob that went beyond the Brazilian custodian’s reaches.
In the final 20 minutes, the match became increasingly tense. Madura United sought an equalizer, while Persib aimed to add another goal to secure a cushion for the second leg.
Persib brought on key players from the bench, including Ezra Walian and Edo Febriansyah, who were later replaced by Beckham Putra.
As the match entered injury time, Persib doubled their lead. A cross from Beckham was headed by David, showcasing an extraordinary leap and top-tier heading technique.
In the final minutes, Persib had a golden chance to score a third goal. Unfortunately, their players lacked composure in their finishing, and the chance was squandered.
However, former Persebaya Surabaya and Terengganu FC danger man David ultimately provided joy in the dying seconds. Amidst a counterattack, he managed to pierce Madura United’s goal. Despite being surrounded by Madura United players, David unleashed a low cross-shot that found the back of the net.
Persib concluded the match with a 3-0 victory. The second leg of the final will take place at Madura United’s home ground, the Gelora Bangkalan Stadium, on Friday, May 31st.