Bandung - The Football Association of Indonesia (PSSI) soccer team, which is being prepared for the Asia Cup championships in Hong Kong, showedimprovement on Wednesday by defeating Persib Bandung 2-0 in a tryout at Siliwangi Stadium.
Referee Aeng Suarlan had to stop the match in the 18th minute for about 20 minutes due to heavy rain in the capital of West Java. The soccer field turned into a muddy arena that did not meet requirements to continue the match.
Both teams tried hard to show their best form soon after the match continued. Persib, which contains young players, proved they were not underdogs, despite the fact that national players had better technical skills.
Persib's old crack, Nandang Kurnaedi, managed to encourage juniors to play offensively, but PSSI stopper Nuralim performed outstandingly to breakthe attack.
In the second half, both teams started to play faster. PSSI striker Kurniawan Dwi Yulianto and left winger Aji Santosa bombarded Persib's goalkeeper but Persib managed to fight back and forced PSSI goalie M Halim to dive to save his net.
PSSI coach Nandar Iskandar replaced Halim with Hendro Kartiko and Kurniawan with Rocky Puttiray.
In the 68th minute, midfielder Uston Nawawi kicked the ball to captain Aji who directly kicked the ball into the net. Persib goalkeeper Udin Rafiudin was not in position to anticipate Aji's kick and PSSI led 1-0.
Another goal was produced thanks to Persib defender Yaris Riyadi's mistake when he passed the ball to the goalkeeper without any friends. Rocky, standing near the ball, passed it to Haryanto Prasetyo who directly volleyed the ball to score 2-0.
Nandar said: ""My team has improved but we still have to work on the midfield."" He will expel two of 20 players before leaving for Hong Kong.
In Yogyakarta, protests marred the Group B match between Persebaya Surabaya and Persikab Bandung during the fourth Sultan Hamengkubuwono IX Cup at Mandala Krida Stadium.
The match was halted as coaches and officials from both teams rushed intothe field. Persikab's official and coaches were angry after referee Joko Sulistyo did not give a yellow card to a Persebaya striker who collided with and injured Persikab's goalie Jajang Sinar Surya at the penalty box.
The situation was quickly brought under control and Persebaya, the runner-up in the fifth Indonesian Soccer League (Ligina), won the match 3-2.
Persikab's coach R. Risnandar accused the referee for being unfair. He claimed that Persebaya's first goal was not valid as it was made from the offside position.
""We didn't lose to Persebaya. We were defeated by the referee,"" he said emotionally. ""But let's see. Persikab will survive in the sixth Ligina,"" hesaid. The sixth Ligina is scheduled to begin in November.
In the second match, Gelora Dewata Bali unexpectedly upset Indonesian League champion PSIS Semarang 4-1. (43/44)