[Brian Swartz]

1.20 -- Latest Asian Competition Rankings show the Indonesian Super League dropping 3 spots to 27th, the Premier Division down 8 to 36th, and the First Division down 3 to 83rd. The lower divisions dropped a bit as well.

1.26 vs. Persatu(0-4-9, 12th) We are 1-6 favorites in what is the definition of a must-win. Urwan will be serving his yellow card suspension today, leaving us short a man in defense with Sutanto forced to fill in. Our first meeting was a scoreless draw in which, horribly short on healthy attackers, we saw a season-high 21 shots go begging.

7' -- Yogi goes down hard in the area trying to manufacture an attack, and he'll stay on but we could do without him being hurt.

9' -- Ewangin to Upromabin who is all alone in front but a little too close to their keeper who cuts down the angle and blocks the shot. A corner results in a loose ball in front, but we can't get to it.

11' -- Ewangin with a good look but a diving stop tips it out. Two corners produce nothing. Our finishing seems to be getting worse with each match.

13' -- Just as I say that, a line drive from more than 25 yards beats Khuluq inside the left post, and Ewangin has his eighth goal of the year to put us on top 1-0!

16' -- The shots just keep on coming, with Adie blasting one angling in from the right, but it's right at Khuluq and he blocks it away. There's a not-small difference between Persatu and everyone else in this group, as their lack of a win through the first 13 matches indicates.

Our passing became more erratic after that and Persatu improved their game a little, and we weren't able to mount the same kind of consistent pressure.

30' -- Their first shot of significance is a header in front, about 14 yards out which is easily saved by Ferminus.

33' -- Bethan gets behind the defense on a counter as [b]]Patay just stands there like an idiot, and he's alone into the area, beating Ferminus who had no chance on that one. Superb. They've scored six goals in 13 matches, and just made us look stupid on that. 1-1.

35' -- Uropmabin uncorks a 30-yarder, our first shot in a while, it's a well-placed line drive that beats Khuluq but is off the post. Ewangin misses high a minute later on a long-distance try after a corner.

40' -- Yogi goes down hard again and this time he'll need to come off, Oropka is in and Sutanto takes the AMC spot. Another foul immediately following the kick and Adie has a straight-on attempt just outside the area, at first I thought it was a penalty call. His blast is well high.

43' -- Didn't take Sutanto long to make his presence felt up front. A fantastic header by Ningmabin started a counter with Ewangin taking it up the left side. He found Ningmabin in the left side of the area with a return pass, blocked off he shoveled one to Sutanto put it past Khuluq inside the left post! 2-1 now. Ningmabin made the play, probably his best sequence of the year.

45' -- A header at midfield sets up Uropmabin ahead of the back, but for once he actually waits too long and his shot is blocked out for a corner. After a turnover, Ewangin has a shot blocked as he couldn't get it off in time for a clear look, and time is called.

HT -- Up 2-1, we finished well and could have very well added another goal before the break. I would like an insurance score and will switch to a more conservative approach if we get it, but for now we'll keep pushing with only a single goal lead.

50' -- They are obviously concerned with Ewangin and are making a career out of fouling him today.

54' -- A volley by Ewangin is blocked out for a corner.

58' -- Adie to Sutanto to Ewangin, who perhaps tried to get a little too cute on a fairly open shot from 20 yards. Khuluq got to it with a diving tip, a little more on that and it was good, heading for right top corner. Sutiono's normally inept corner kicks have been much worse than usual today.

62' -- We work it to Ningmabin for pretty good look from inside the area, but he's well off-target. Setia is on for Adie, who has been beat up pretty good today.

64' -- Sutiono shows his value with a fantastic tackle of Mustofa who looked like he was a step behind the defense. I decide not to tempt fate and tell the guys to hold back now and just look for chances to counter.

74' -- Surhandak gets a freekick from 30 yards straight on, thanks to just our third foul of the day. It's a weak effort though and easily taken by Ferminus.

78' -- A scramble in front of our goal is far too close for comfort, but Ningmabin eventually gets it out of there.

82' -- They are getting too much pressure on our end, and we'll retreat and try to block off any possible chances of a tying score.

FT -- A couple of desperate long-range attempts miss and we hang on for the 2-1 win. It should have been a bigger margin, but we'll take any victory at this point, they've been few and far between as it's only our third of the season. Upromabin(1 ast) edged out Sutanto(1 gl) for player of the match.

Yogi has a dead leg and will miss 6-8 days.