Debutant striker Leonardo Gaucho scored a brace as Borneo FC Samarinda overcame Persis Solo 2-0 in their 2024 Piala Presiden opener at the Si Jalak Harupat Stadium on Friday.
Gaucho put Borneo ahead 1-0 during injury time of the first half, capitalizing on a lapse in Persis’ defense. After gaining control of the ball, Gaucho’s initial shot was blocked by a defender, but the rebound fell back to him, allowing him to send a low shot past Persis goalkeeper Muhammad Riyandi.
Holding a 1-0 lead at halftime, Borneo did not rest on their laurels. They came out strong at the start of the second half, quickly applying pressure.
Their efforts paid off in the 52nd minute, with Gaucho once again finding the back of the net. This goal stemmed from a blunder by Giovani Numberi, who misjudged a long pass into Persis’ penalty area.
Instead of controlling the ball, it bounced off Giovani and went straight to Gaucho. Faced with a one-on-one with the keeper, Gaucho struggled to get a clean shot, but the ball rebounded off his body after a tussle with Riyandi and rolled smoothly into the goal.
Following this, Persis pushed hard to find a goal, while Borneo sought a third to seal their victory.
Despite the continuous exchange of attacks, no further goals were scored, as Borneo secured all three points to their name.