Menpora Cup Prime Match, Score 1-1 For Arema Vs Persikabo

Arema FC (blue shirt) against Persikabo (white shirt) in the inaugural match for Menpora Cup 2021 at Manahan Stadium, Solo, Sunday, March 21 (Bambang Dwi Marwoto / Antara)

JAKARTa - The Arema FC Malang team drew 1-1 with Persikabo 1973 in the inaugural match of the 2021 Menpora Cup soccer tournament at Manahan Stadium, Solo, Central Java, Sunday evening.

Reported by Antara, Sunday, March 21, in the first half, Arema, who is under coach Kuncoro, tried to make a quick attack by passing the ball from one player to another, but always failed due to the meeting of Persikabo's defender defender. On the other hand, Persikabo, which relies on counterattacks, often makes Arema Malang's defense troublesome.

In fact, Persikabo took the lead in the 11th minute through Ahmad Nuviandani's kick, which changed the position to 0-1 for Persikabo.

Persikabo's goal came from a dead ball kick outside the penalty box by Wawan Febriyanto in front of Arema's goal. A mental ball fell in front of Ahmad Nuviadani who immediately kicked the ball towards Arema's goal guarded by Teguh Amirudin.

Even though he was one goal ahead, Persikabo, under coach Igor Kryushenko, continued to exert pressure by relying on fast counter-attacks that made Arema's defense troublesome again.

Arema, who was one goal behind, continued to try to increase the tempo of the game with attacks to the heart of Persikabo's defense but failed again due to the tightness of the opponent's defense.

A golden opportunity was created in the 38th minute through Hari Yuda, who often had opportunities in front of Persikabo's goal, but his shot was still able to be blocked by Persikabo's defender. Hari Yuda got another chance in the 40th minute when he was left to face Persikabo's goalkeeper, Syahrul Trisna Fadilah. But the ball that tricked the goalkeeper was actually diverted from Persikabo's goal, so that the position remained 0-1 for Persikabo's advantage.

The 0-1 position for Persikabo lasted until the referee who led the match Aprisman Aranda from West Sumatra blew the long whistle marking the end of the first half.

Entering the second half, coach Kuncoro improved Arema's defense by replacing defender M Robi and bringing in Didik Aryanto to increase his strength.

Johan Ahmat Farizi and his friends continued to exert pressure to catch up with Persikabo and Arema's golden opportunity occurred again in the 32nd minute in the second half, but unfortunately Rizky Dwi's header was slightly off the mark above Persikabo's goal.

Arema FC was only able to equalize in the 38th minute of the second half through Dendi Santoso's header, so that the position was drawn 1-1.

Arema's goal came from chaos in front of Persikabo's goal. One of the Persikabo defenders who tried to block the ball from the opponent's attack, but the ball bounced on the head of Dendi Santoso and then aimed firmly at Persikabo's goal.

In that match, the referee issued four yellow cards for Syahrul Trisna, Guntut Triaji, Marasabessy and A. Lestaluhu, all of whom are Persikabo players.