Persija Jakarta emerged victorious in the final match of the Liga 1 competition held at Jakarta’s Bung Karno main stadium, securing their first championship title in 17 years. The match, which was graced by the presence of Jakarta’s governor Anies Baswedan, witnessed Persija’s striker Marko Simic scoring two crucial goals in the 17th minute (penalty) and the 59th minute. Mitra Kukar managed to score a late goal in the 88th minute through Aldino Herdianto’s kick.
With this win, Persija topped the final standings with 62 points, edging past PSM Makassar by just one point. In another match held at the Andi Mattalata Stadium in Makassar, PSM secured a dominant 5-1 victory over PSMS Medan.
Coach Stefano “Teco” Cugurra attributed the team’s success to their consistent performance throughout the season. He commended the players for maintaining high-quality gameplay and a resilient mentality, enabling them to overcome various challenges and ultimately clinch the championship trophy.
“Persija’s consistency was evident until the very end. The players and officials demonstrated exceptional cohesion. I am grateful for the trust placed in me by the club to lead this team,” Teco expressed after confirming Persija’s Indonesian League 1 title.
The Brazilian coach emphasized that Persija displayed a solid performance from the outset of the 2018 final match. Their remarkable achievement in the Liga 1 competition added to a series of successes earlier in the year. In January 2018, Persija secured victory in an international tournament in Malaysia, followed by another triumph in the 2018 Presidential Cup national pre-season tournament in February. The culmination of these victories solidified Persija’s stellar record throughout 2018.
Reflecting on the team’s journey, Teco acknowledged the challenges they had to overcome, including frequent relocations for matches. Despite the varying venues, including Bantul, Bekasi, Cikarang, and Bogor, the players consistently delivered commendable performances.
“Our relentless dedication throughout the year, despite frequent relocations, underscored our commitment to success. The players’ unwavering performance was truly commendable,” Teco remarked.
Persija captain Ismed Sofyan lauded the players’ exceptional mentality and resilience in the face of adversity. He expressed gratitude to the management and the loyal Jakmania supporters for their unwavering backing.
“The players’ remarkable mentality was pivotal to our success. I extend my gratitude to everyone, particularly the management and our devoted Jakmania supporters,” said the 39-year-old Sofyan.
The triumphant victory of Persija Jakarta in the Indonesian League 1 2018 not only signifies their outstanding teamwork and resilience but also marks a significant milestone in the club’s esteemed history.
This article was reported by Michael Siahaan and edited by Bustanujdin. The original report was published by Antara and edited by Suharto. (Copyright © ANTARA 2018)
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