Waiting For The Excitement Of The Papua National Sports Week Women's Soccer Final Match, Host Against West Java

Papuan women's team players (Photo: PB PON XX PAPUA/John Rogi).

JAKARTA - The women's soccer sport of the XX Papua National Sports Week (PON) has entered the final round which pits the host team Papua against West Java at the Katapal Stadium, Merauke, Monday at 14.30 p.m. local time.

The final match that could be considered ideal if you look at the track records of the two teams from the group stage to the semifinal match.

Citing Antara, Papua and West Java had previously met in the preliminary round of Group A which was won by the home team with a narrow score of 1-0 in a tight match.

The hosts will certainly benefit greatly from the full support of the audience in Merauke who always enliven the stadium when the Papuan women's soccer team competes.

Not to mention the motivation to present the gold medal from football which for the Papuan people has become a popular sport that is inseparable in their daily lives.

Meanwhile, for West Java, the second meeting against Papua will be used as a means of revenge for the defeat in the group stage match as well as burying the host's dream of winning a gold medal.

Track record

Joined in the same group in the preliminary round, West Java and Papua have different stories on their way to the final round of women's soccer.

West Java started the step in PON by facing off against West Papua which ended with a score of 5 - 0 for the victory of the Bumi Pasundan team.

West Java player number 10 Pani Tri Oktavianti scored three goals (hatricks) out of five goals against West Papua's women's goal.

Two other West Java winning goals were scored by Mila Nur Kamila and Helsya Maeisyaroh. The victory at the same time dashed the hopes of West Papua towards the semifinals.

Meanwhile, the Papuan women's team started the journey with a convincing victory against West Papua which ended with a landslide score of 7 - 0.

Papua's winning goal over West Papua was scored by Feni Binsbarek, Liza Armanita Madjar Anggie, and Marsella Yuliana Awi who each scored two goals, and one goal was contributed by Silviana Yigibalom.

Both of them bagged one win, the two teams then met in the last qualifying party to fight for the status of being group winners.

Papua managed to beat West Java with a narrow score of 1-0 through a single goal scored by their mainstay midfielder, Liza Armanita Madjar in 42 minutes. Papua also stepped into the semifinals with the status of group winners.

"Papua played well, we are the same. We also had a real chance to score but that's the game, we are satisfied with today's performance," said West Java coach Ronny Remon, quoting Antara.

Papua's step in the semifinals was tried to be blocked by the Bangka Belitung women's team, which was the runner-up in Group B.

Bangka Belitung, which was attended by three players from the women's national team, had not been able to block Papua's progress to the final round.

Papua won with a convincing score of 4 - 0 through goals scored by Ina Paulanda Wetipo, Emmy Clarce Falentina Awes, Selly Wununga, Laslen Tabuni.

Meanwhile, West Java met with the DKI Jakarta team, which is the winner of Group B. West Java won the match with a final score of 3 - 0 through two goals from Rosdilah Siti Nurrohmah and Helsya Maeisyaroh.

Decisive match

Both of them bagged a win with a big score in the semifinal match, making both teams have good capital in looking at the final party to fight for the PON gold medal.

However, the two teams were not without problems in preparation for the final. The issue of injury and player fitness became the scourge of the two coaches in formulating strategies to win medals.

Papuan women's coach Priagung Dani Atmojo said that one of her mainstay players, Feni Binsbarek, was injured and could not be selected for the semifinal match against Bangka Belitung.

"Honestly, there were some who were injured so we didn't field them. For injured players, Feni's condition is still being monitored but his condition in the final is ready to go down," said Priagung.

West Java, which appeared without the main goalkeeper, Nurhalimah, due to injuries during the group stage and semifinals, also did not know his condition for the final match.

In terms of players, the West Java women's team will still rely on the abilities of three women's national team players, namely Helsya Maeisyaroh, Riri Junian Nella, and Tia Darti Septiawati supported by Pani Tri Oktavianti in dismantling Papua's defenses.

Meanwhile, Papuan women, even though there are no players labeled as the national team, cannot be underestimated. Papua has advantages in terms of speed and individual player abilities.

Not to mention the coordination of a solid defensive line to make their goal until the final can not be penetrated by any team.

Judging from the existing conditions, the final match will certainly be exciting. Both teams have the same opportunity to win a gold medal in the women's soccer sport, which is the first time they have competed in PON.

In the midst of the development of women's soccer in Indonesia, which is starting to get a place, of course, from events such as PON, it is hoped that new seeds will be born which will later become the backbone of the women's national team to achieve the highest achievements.