Hattrick Wins, PSIM Yogyakarta Wins First Round Of Group 2 League 2

PSIM Yogyakarta player Arlyansyah Abdulmanan (left) celebrated a goal in the League 2 match against Persekat Tegal. (Gonang Susatyo)

PSIM Yogyakarta scored a victory hat trick after defeating Persekat Tegal 3-0 in the 2024 Liga 2 Group 2 match at the Mandala Krida Stadium, Yogyakarta, Sunday, October 27, 2024. The victory made PSIM appear as the winner of the first round of Group 2.

PSIM's impressive result closed the first round by winning the group. In the final match of the first round, PSIM successfully beat Persekat which made them pocketed 17 points.

Previously, PSIM won a big victory by defeating Persikas Subang and Persikau Subang. Both were slaughtered by PSIM with the same score 5-0. Seto Nurdiyantoro's team also scored a victory hat trick when they hosted Persikat.

With only one loss when forced to surrender Persipa Pati 3-1, PSIM's point was actually accompanied by Bhayangkara Precision FC. However, Laskar Mataram is ahead on goal difference so they can perch at the top.

PSIM's success is even more complete because striker Rafael 'Rafinha' De Sa Rodrigues is the temporary scorer with 8 goals.

"I congratulate the management and supporters because we won last game in the first round. We won the first round, but that was not the final goal," Seto said in response to the team's victory.

Seto didn't want the players to be satisfied with that achievement. The reason is, they face tougher challenges in the second round. Moreover, the teams will make improvements.

"We are indeed on the desired path. But in the future the challenges will be tougher. We also have to do a lot of evaluations. Players are still not patient and there are always individual mistakes that must be addressed," he said again.

Meanwhile, Perekat I coach Putu Gede said the team was actually able to keep pace with PSIM. However, after being carded red, Dandi Maulana made the team's game change drastically. Dandi received a second yellow card after committing a foul on Rafinha which was followed by a red card in the 19th minute.

"After the red card, the game changed completely. Plans and strategies immediately changed. However, I appreciate the players because they still put up a fight. In the second half, we continued to fight. But whatever, we still had difficulties playing with 10 people," said Putu Gede.

In that match PSIM was slightly superior in possession of the ball so they could press the Persekat defense. Only weak finishing makes many chances wasted.

The situation then changed after Persekat lost Dandi who got a red card. The expulsion of defenders made their defense a bit fragile.

Winning the number of players made PSIM play openly and carried out repeated attacks. Only their efforts only paid off after Arlyansyah Abdulmanan broke into the goal towards the end of the first half. The 1-0 score for PSIM lasted until halftime.

In the second half, PSIM immediately stepped on the gas. The result was not in vain. Rafinha successfully added a goal when the game had only been running for three minutes.

After winning 2-0, PSIM slightly lowered the tempo of the game. However, the hosts can still add goals.

This time it was Savio Sheva who solidified PSIM's victory in the 77th minute. The score changed to 3-0 for PSIM and lasted until the game was over.