Persija Jakarta Gusur PSM Makassar From Puncak Klasemen Sementara Liga 1

Persija Jakarta beat PSM Makassar in the continuation of Liga 1. (Photo: Twitter/@Persija_Jkt)

JAKARTA - Persija Jakarta picked up three points when they hosted PSM Makassar at Patriot Candrabhaga Stadium, Bekasi, Wednesday, January 25. In the continuation of Liga 1 2022/2023, the Kemayoran Tigers won with a score of 4-2.

Persija's new young player, Aji Kusuma, performed brilliantly. He scored two goals in his debut with Thomas Doll's side.

Meanwhile, Persija's other two goals were scored by national team striker Bahrain Abdulla Yusuf Helal. PSM can reduce the position through goals from Everton Nascimento and Rasyid Bakri.

Persija coach Thomas Doll only fielded two of his four foreign players in the first eleven. Ondrej Kudela filled the center-back post and Abdulla Yusuf as the striker. Meanwhile Hanno Behrens and Michael Krmencik sat on the bench.

Meanwhile, PSM coach Bernardo Tavares plays his best players, including all the foreign players they have.

However, Persija, who received the support of thousands of their supporters, took the lead through Abdulla Yusuf in the 21st minute after accurately utilizing Riko Simanjuntak's pass.

15 minutes later, Aji Kusuma showed his spurs. Down from the early minutes, the former U-19 national team striker listed his name on the scoreboard by converting the assist made by Riko Simanjuntak.

Persija were also two goals ahead before halftime, as reported by Antara.

Nine minutes after the break, Aji again scored to give Persija a 3-0 lead after continuing Muhammad Ferarri's pass.

PSM hit back in the 68th minute via Everton Nascimento which turned Ramadhan Sananta's pass into a goal.

However, Persija were further away from PSM after Abdulla Yusuf scored his second goal in the 82nd minute. PSM did not give up after Rasyid Bakri scored the closing goal of the match in the 90+2 minute even though he did not save his team from defeat.

With this result, Persija evicted PSM from the top of the 2022/2023 Liga 1 standings. Persija are now collecting the same points as PSM, which is 38, but is ahead of goal difference.