JAKARTA (9 Feb 2011) – Defending Indonesia Super League (ISL) champions Arema Indonesia ended the unbeaten run of current league leader Persipura Jayapura off a late tap-in from substitute Sunarto at the Kanjuruhan Stadium in Malang, East Java.
The lone Sunarto strike in the 89th minute of play did enough to give Arema the 1-0 victory and Persipura’s first defeat of the season.
But in spite of the loss, Persipura still lead the ISL with 32 points garnered from 13 games while the slim win afforded Arema to move to third with 23 points – two points behind second-placed Semen Padang.
“That was our best performance this season,” Arema coach Miroslav Janu said.
“We were able to hold off Persipura’s attack and Sunarto has been proving himself as our supersub. He has scored two goals in two consecutive matches after coming on as a substitute.”
In the other matches, Sriwijaya beat Semen Padang 5-0 at the Sriwijaya Stadium in Palembang, as Bontang FC moved from the bottom of the standings with a 2-1 win over Deltras Sidoarjo.
Persisam Samarinda overcame visiting Persela Lamongan side 4-1.
In the meantime, struggling Persib Bandung announced that they might lose the services of former international defender Nova Arianto.
Persib chief coach Daniel Roekito announced that the 32-year-old central defender had expressed his desire to leave the club during the ISL’s second transfer window.
“He told me that he wanted to leave, but he said he would stay until Persib’s last match before the ISL’s midseason break,” said Daniel.
“I’m not going to stop anyone who wants to leave because if I keep such players they are likely to be unsettled and play half-heartedly. That will cost the club.”
Currently ranked 13th in the 15-team league, Persib’s next two matches before the mid-season break will be against second-placed team Semen Padang and Persijap Jepara.
“I think his (Nova) mind will already be elsewhere, so it will be better for both of us if he sits on the bench,” added Daniel.
“There are several players who have been underperforming and we are thinking of replacing them.”
DJARUM ISL 2010
| No | Klub | P | W | D | L | GD | PTS |
| 1 | PERSIPURA | 13 | 10 | 2 | 1 | 39-10 | 32 |
| 2 | SEMEN PADANG | 13 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 20-14 | 25 |
| 3 | AREMA INDONESIA | 13 | 6 | 5 | 2 | 21-9 | 23 |
| 4 | PERSIJA | 12 | 7 | 2 | 3 | 17-8 | 23 |
| 5 | PERSIWA | 13 | 6 | 3 | 4 | 19-18 | 21 |
| 6 | PERSISAM | 12 | 6 | 1 | 5 | 16-14 | 19 |
| 7 | SRIWIJAYA FC | 12 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 20-18 | 17 |
| 8 | PSPS | 12 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 18-17 | 17 |
| 9 | DELTRAS | 14 | 5 | 1 | 8 | 18-23 | 16 |
| 10 | PERSIBA BALIKPAPAN | 13 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 17-20 | 15 |
| 11 | PERSIJAP | 12 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 13-24 | 14 |
| 12 | PERSELA | 14 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 8-19 | 13 |
| 13 | PERSIB | 12 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 12-24 | 11 |
| 14 | BONTANG FC | 12 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 15-29 | 11 |
| 15 | PELITA JAYA | 13 | 3 | 1 | 9 | 13-19 | 10 |
