Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Medan: AFC Cup 2012 quarter-finalists Arema Indonesia maintained their chase for the runners-up position in the Indonesia Premier League standings when they defeated PSMS Medan 3-1 on Sunday.
Both teams played to finish the first half goalless but Australian striker Andrew Barisic livened up the game with a goal two minutes into the second half and again after 54 minutes to complete his brace while Roma Chmelo had a goal in the 52nd minute. Rinaldo registered PSMS’ solitary goal.
Arema coach Dejan Antonic was satisfied with the performance of his team, saying: “My players played well and their tactics should also be commended.”
On their preparation for the remaining three matches in the league, the Serbian coach said: “Yes, we will have to maintain to focus on our remaining task ahead.”
Standing at eighth position with 31 points from 19 matches played, Arema only have a chance to win second place as league leaders Semen, who have accumulated an unbeatable 46 points with one more match to go, are already guaranteed the league crown.
Arema finished second behind Kelantan of Malaysia with seven points from three matches in AFC Cup 2012 Group H and went on to beat Hong Kong’s Kitchee 2-0 in the Round of 16, clinching their passage to the last eight.
The indonesians will host Al Ettifaq, one of the two teams remaining in the tournament who have yet to taste defeat, when the AFC Cup quarter-final begins on September 19, before travelling to Saudi Arabia for the second-leg match a week later.