Persebaya Successfully Closes First Round Of Liga 1 With 33 Points

Persebaya player Marselino Ferdinand (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - ​Persebaya Surabaya successfully closed the first round of the 2021/2022 Indonesian League 1 competition with 33 points. The additional three points were obtained after they beat Bali United 3-1 in the 17th-week match at I Gusti Ngurah Rai Stadium, Denpasar, Bali, Wednesday night.

Quoted from Antara, Thursday, since the first half, the two teams had played fiercely and Persebaya immediately took the lead in the 5th minute through Samsul Arif Munip.

Samsul Arif managed to take advantage of the bait sent by Marselino Ferdinand into a goal so that it made the position 1-0.

Conceding one goal made Bali United more aggressive in attacking until it finally produced a reply in the 14th minute.

Individual action by Eber Bessa was able to break into the Persebaya goal which was guarded by goalkeeper Andhika Ramadhani and equalized the score to 1-1.

After equalizing, Bali United did not reduce the tension of the game, as did Bajul Ijo who kept trying to break through the enemy defense line.

However, until the first half ended there were no additional goals so the temporary score remained 1-1.

Entering the second half, Bali United immediately showed an aggressive game and was able to get several scoring opportunities.

In the 49th minute, Serdadu Tridatu almost scored from a corner, but Willian Pachecho's header was still saved by the Persebaya goalkeeper.

Another opportunity was obtained by Bali United in the 53rd minute through Muhammad Rahmat's cross, but unfortunately, Stefano Lilipaly's shot was not optimal.

Repeatedly sending attacks, Bali United conceded in the 64th minute after Bruno Moreira successfully took advantage of a pass from Taisei Marukawa and made it 2-1.

Persebaya surprised again with a goal scored by Marselino Ferdinand in the 75th minute by utilizing an assist from Muhammad Hidayat.

Actually, Bali United had the opportunity to add a goal, but the penalty kick executed by Ilija Spasojevic was saved by goalkeeper Andhika Ramadhani.

Until the second half ended, Bali United, who were two goals behind, was unable to fight back until the match ended with a score of 3-1.

With this victory, Persebaya still occupies the 4th position in the standings with a collection of 33 points from 17 matches and is closely tied to Arema FC and Persib Bandung with a difference of only 1 point.

The following is the line-up for the Persebaya vs Bali United match:

Persebaya Surabaya:

Andhika Ramadhani; Reva Adi Utama, Mokhamad Syaifuddin, Arif Satria, Ady Setiawan; Muhammad Hidayat, Muhammad Alwi Slamat, Marselino Ferdinand; Bruno Moreira, Samsul Arif Munip, Taisei Marukawa.

Coach: Aji Santoso

Bali United:

Wawan Hendrawan; I Made Andhika, Willian Silva, Haudi Abdillah, Ricky Fajrin; Brwa Hekmat, Rizky Ahmad, Eber Henrique; Stefano Jantje Lilipaly, Muhammad Rahmat, Ilija Spasojevic.