AREMA LEAD ISL; PERSIPURA KEEP CHASE

JAKARTA (10 May 2010) – In the week that Arema Indonesia kept their place at the top of the Indonesia Super League (ISL) with a 2-1 win over Persela Lamongan, Persipura Jayapura kept up the chase with a similar win over twice winners of the Copa Indonesia Sriwijaya FC.

For Persipura, they had a penalty miss from Sriwijaya captain Keith Gumbs to thank for allowing them to rake up the full points to make sure that they are just three points adrift of the league leaders.

In the match that was played at the Jakabaring Stadium, the visiting Persipura side only broke the deadlock in the 73rd minute off prodigal son Boaz Solossa before the home team replied off Liberian midfielder Zah Rahan seven minutes later.

But Persipura was not about to be denied the full points when Boaz found the space down the right flank two minutes later to square the ball for Yustinus Pae to nod home.

Sriwijaya had a golden opportunity to equalize three minutes into stoppage time when they were awarded with a penalty but Gumbs sent his spot kick well wide to the right.

The loss left Sriwijaya in sixth place with 42 points while Arema Indonesia lead the league with 63 points – three ahead of Persipura.