Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Jakarta: League football returned to Indonesia on Saturday as Persib Bandung were held to a draw and Barito Putera claimed a win on the opening day of the new Liga 1 season.
Following the lifting of FIFA sanctions last year, this weekend’s action marks the first-time top-flight clubs have competed for officially recognised domestic honours since 2014.
With normal service resumed in the Southeast Asian nation, two high profile recent arrivals in the shape of former Chelsea star Michael Essien and one-time England international Carlton Cole both featured for Persib who drew 0-0 at home to Arema.
In the wake of immense pre-match media coverage, Essien played for 78 minutes at the Gelora Bandung Lautan Api Stadium, while Cole came on as a substitute at the start of the second half as Persib, one of the favourites to win the title, failed to break down a resolute Arema defence.
Meanwhile, the day’s earlier game saw Barito Putera come from behind to register a 2-1 victory over Mitra Kular.
Goals from Thiago Cunha and Dedi Hartono proved enough for the Banjarmasin-based side after Septian David Maulana had given the visitors a 12th minute lead.