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Old 07-15-2014, 02:01 AM   #86
Brian Swartz
Grizzled Veteran
 
Join Date: May 2006
4.14 -- A bruised head will keep Prasetyo out a week and a half, leaving us pretty bare right now in the defensive line.

4.16 Youth Candidate Day. We'll keep DM/MC Yusuf Yusuf, fresh in from the Department of Redundancy Dept. apparently, and DR Wawan Firmansyah. Both have good potential with the ability to serve in absolute emergency circumstances without completely embarrassing themselves at present.

4.17 -- Herlan suffered fractured ribs in training today, and will miss 2-3 months(in other words, he's done for the year). Adie will get one last shot now to do something memorable.

4.18 -- Voting begins for the player of the year awards. For Young Player of the year, Sutanto is considered one of the frontrunners ...

4.19 vs. PSKT(5th) Neutral site for this one. We had a crazy 4-4 draw the first time out, coming from behind three times, then losing a 4-3 lead at the end. We're 2-5 favorites for this one. Their coach Roland Khoibur refused to comment about our 'overachievement' with limited resources here, choosing to focus on his own club. Smart man.

We're the very last fixture of the year for Group D First Phase, and as it ends up we have nothing to play for. Persibom lost 2-0 at home to Perssin in their finale to make us tops in the group no matter what happens. At the bottom of the table, Persemalra needed a win but were only able to draw Persenga 1-1, and their failure is complete ... they should have been in Premier Division this year, and now they'll fall to Second Division.

As a result of this, I treat this as what it is -- a glorified friendly, and run out extra reserves with a goal only of maintaining fitness. PSKT is without multiple players, including keeper Fernando Pitoy who is well known to us.

GK: Setia
D: Urwan/Muda/Saragih/Kasipmabin
M: Ningmabin/Saputra/Adie
A: Bayhaqi/Oropka/Ewangin

I tell them to just go enjoy themselves, yet Saragih still fidgets nervously. He's a real basketcase that one -- and Bob thinks he's also become our best player. Not most important player, but best relative to his position.

2' -- Oropka up the right side of the area, goes near corner and hits the crossbar. A minute later, they complete misjudge a ball and Adie goes free into the same part of the pitch. Wide left.

That was his chance for one last moment of glory right there.

9' -- Lots of scramble in midfield, then Bayhaqi with a fine pass to Oropka streaking up the gut, took him too long to control it and then Ari blocked the shot away. He's done everything but score in the early going.

11' -- Adie with a very nice lead pass to Ewangin, we're really countering well today despite the limited squad, and he hits a very nice strike inside the left post! 1-0, and they've not threatened yet.

29' -- They've done a lot better at controlling midfield against us, neither side getting any serious threats for quite a while. Bayhaqi goes down left of the area, not what I needed to see. Sutanto comes on.

42' -- Freekick for Adie, good shot but Ari guess cross-angle correctly and tips it out for a corner.

45' -- They can't control a cross right at the edge of the box, and then Sutanto misses badly open at the edge of the area. Missed opportunities both ways.


HT -- Technically they have yet to attempt a shot(8 for us), even though we're getting beat up in possession(58% for PSKT). I wouldn't bet on that strange set of facts repeating itself.


60' -- Ewangin to Oropka, open in the area, should have scored but Ari blocks it away. It's to Sutanto angling in from the left and he's looking at an open net, puts it away with authority! 2-0!!

Adie is tired and starting to get banged up, Yarangga's on for him. The shot itself was nothing special but that goal was about anticipation, Sutanto saw where it was going before Muchtar did, got their first and the rest was paperwork. Should give him an extra shot in the arm for his Young Player of the Year campaign.

68' -- Setia is bracketed by two attackers on a cross, but punches it out safely, a good decision. Afandi fouls Ewangin in frustration.

The flow of this match is all going our way now.

80' -- Oropka up the right side for Urwan, fairly sharp-angle shot and he tries to outsmart Ari by floating it to the far corner, but he retreats and makes the save easily.

88' -- They suck us into the middle on a counter and then Suntoro waltzes in practically to the box, Setia didn't come out much in fear of a centering pass as they were all over us. Easy score, and it's 2-1 now.

Muda breaks up three rushes in a row with some solid plays, and it's over.


FT -- Could have done without another late concession, but a solid 2-1 win and more than I expected from the side we put out there. Defensively we were good up till the end, and nobody really had a poor day.

Suntoro steals away player of the match for that score, which I would beg to differ with. Imam Bayhaqi has a bruised thigh and will miss two weeks.
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