MISERY FOR PERSITARA; PSM PENALISED

Persitara fell to a 2-1 loss to Persebaya Surabaya at the Soemantri Brodjonegoro Stadium with former Sriwijaya FC striker Claude Ngon Djam and Andi Oddang finding the net for the visitors.

The only goal for the homesters came off Prince Kabir Bello late in the game.

Persebaya coach Danurwindo, who was in charge of Persija Jakarta last season, said his team was still recovering from a stunning 4-1 loss to PSPS Pekanbaru.

“We expected Persitara to put pressure on us, so we decided to wait for them and launch counterattacks and it worked,” said Danurwindo.

“We anticipated the opponent’s game plan and the boys played well.”

The first goal for Persebaya came in the sixth minute of play when Ngon Djam slipped past Ladislas Bushiri for a lob over goalkeeper Sandy Firmansyah before Andi doubled his team’s lead in the 39th minute pouncing on a rebound.

Tensions spiked at the hour mark after Sutikno went in hard on Persebaya defender Anang Ma’ruf.

Referee Fiator Ambarita showed Sutikno a straight red card, while Anang was immediately taken to a hospital with a dislocated right elbow.

Persebaya could not extend their lead with the man advantage, and they went down to ten men in the 86th minute after Josh Maguire received his second yellow card.

Bello scored off a Tantan cross in injury time but it was a little too late for the Jakarta club.

Persitara assistant coach Doddy Sahetapy said they failed to execute their game plan.

“Instead of controlling the game, we got trapped into Persebaya’s game plan and it cost us a quick goal.”

The result lifted Persebaya to ninth place with seven points from four matches while Persitara sit last without a single point from four losses.

In the meantime, the Disciplinary Committee of the PSSI (Indonesia FA), delivered a sentence on PSM where they will have to play their next home match in an empty stadium.

This follows the crowd incident in a home game when PSM conceded a defeat to PSPS Pekanbaru recently.

The decision was made by the committee chaired by Hinca Panjaitan.

The next home game for PSM will be on 25 November when they take on Persija.

PSM local organisers were also fined Rp20 million.

CURRENT INDONESIA SUPER LEAGUE 2009/2010 STANDINGS

1. PERSELA 13pts (+4)

2. PERSIBA BALIKPAPAN 11pts (+4)

3. PERSIJAP 11pts (+5)

4. AREMA 10pts (+3)

5. PERSEMA 9pts (=)

6. PSPS 9pts (=)

7. PERSISAM 8pts (-3)

8. PERSIWA 7pts (+7)

9. PERSEBAYA 7pts (+1)

10. PSM 5pts (-3)

11. PERSIJA 3pts (-1)

12. PERSIPURA 3pts (=)

13. PERSIK 3pts (=)

14. BONTANG FC 3pts (-4)

15. PELITA JAYA 1pt (-2)

16. SRIWIJAYA FC 1pt (-4)

17. PERSIB 0pt (-3)

18. PERSITARA 0pt (-5)