Tue, 30 Nov, -0001
Jayapura: Liberian striker Eddie Foday scored five goals as Indonesia’s Persipura Jayapura eased into the quarter-finals of the AFC Cup for the second time with a stunning 9-2 win over 10-man Yangon United of Myanmar on Tuesday.
Early goals by Foday and Tinue Pae put Group E winners Persipura two goals up after only 10 minutes at Mandala Stadium but Group G runners-up Yangon hit back through Cezar Augusto and Kyaw Ko Ko to level the score at 2-2 by the 21st minute.
However, Foday quickly restored the home side’s lead before the dismissal of Yangon defender Aung Thaik for deliberate handball opened the floodgates.
Ian Kabes converted the resulting penalty – one of his two goals in the match – and substitute Titus Bonai also got on the scoresheet as the Indonesian Super League champions took full advantage of the extra man.
It was the biggest-ever victory for a team in the AFC Cup knockout rounds, surpassing Vietnamese side Binh Duong’s 8-2 rout of Malaysia’s Kedah in the last 16 in 2009. Persipura also became just the second team to score nine goals in an AFC Cup game after Nasaf of Uzbekistan, who thrashed Indian side Dempo 9-0 in 2011.
"We are very pleased and excited with this victory that has taken Persipura to the quarter-finals,” said Persipura coach Jacksen Tiago.
“This is a victory to be proud of, thanks to the good cooperation between the players, coaches and management of the club and the support of the people of Papua.”
Persipura were out of the blocks quickly with Foday beating the Yangon offside trap and sliding the ball past goalkeeper Pyae Phyo Oo in the second minute before Pae fired into the roof of the net eight minutes later.
But the visitors bounced back superbly with Brazilian striker Augusto heading home six minutes later before Ko Ko levelled the tie with a long-range effort after 21 minutes.
The hosts would quickly restore their lead though as Foday’s angled low shot from the left of the box found the far corner of the net with the Yangon defence appealing in vain for offside against Titus Bonai, who was standing right in front of Phyo Oo but did not touch the ball.
Aung Thaik was booked for his protests and worse was to follow for the defender shortly afterwards when he handled Bonai’s goal-bound chip and was shown a red card with Kabes duly despatching the resulting spot kick to make it 4-2.
With the Yangon defence in disarray, Foday tapped in two more goals in the closing minutes of the half to make it 6-2 at the interval.
There would be no let-up by the hosts in the second half as Kabes curled in his second of the game in the 53rd minute and Bonai fired in a stunner four minutes later before Foday exchanged passes with Bonai before firing home his fifth goal of the game four minutes from time to seal Persipura’s place in the May 28 quarter-final draw.
"I did not expect us to lose by so much although I thought that three of the goals appeared to be offside,” lamented the Australian. “But we could only hold on in the second half in order not to lose by more than 10 goals.
“Persipura are already at a higher level than us because they have good funding, quality players and are well prepared. Congratulations to Jacksen and Persipura.”