In Thursday’s RCTI Premium Sports International Tournament semifinal at the Jakarta International Stadium, the youthful Persija Jakarta team secured a 1-0 victory over PSIS Semarang, thus advancing to the final. Akbar Arjunsyah’s lone goal in the match was instrumental in securing Macan Kemayoran’s spot in the final.
Despite the absence of key players due to international duties and the need for rest after a demanding Liga 1 Indonesia season, Persija fielded a squad filled with young talent. The team still featured experienced first-team members such as Cahya Supriyadi, Maman Abdulrahman, Tony Sucipto, Akbar, and Aji Kusuma.
PSIS also relied on youth for the tournament, supplementing their team with foreign players on a trial basis, including individuals such as Adam Mitter, Yehven Bokhashvili, and Reza Heidari, who brought their experience to the team.
Backed by the support of their devoted Jakmania fans, Persija took charge from the outset, causing problems for the PSIS defenders. Despite occasional counterattacks from PSIS, Persija’s defense, led by Maman, remained resolute.
The perseverance of Persija paid off as Akbar’s powerful header found the back of the net in the 22nd minute. The teams continued to battle for the remainder of the game, but no further goals were scored as Persija maintained their slim lead.
After the match, there were emotional moments as Maman and Tony bid farewell to the Jakmania. Both veteran players will be departing Persija, with Maman hinting at retirement and Tony expressing his desire to continue playing, possibly for teams in the lower leagues.
The final on June 2nd will witness Persija facing off against Selangor FC, while PSIS competes against Sabah FC in the third-place play-off on the same day.
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