Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Jayapura: Warriors FC were hit for six by hosts Persipura Jayapura as the unbeaten Indonesian club ran rampant in their penultimate AFC Cup Group E tie on Tuesday, crushing the already-eliminated Singaporean side 6-0 at Mandala Stadium.
Bio Paulin opened the scoring on 19 minutes before Ian Kabes added a second four minutes before half-time. Captain Boaz Solossa then added a swift double after the re-start before Kabes completed his own brace just before the hour mark to leave Warriors FC five goals down.
Substitute Gerald Pangkali then added the game and Persipura’s sixth and final goal on 88 minutes as last year’s semi-finalists, who had already secured passage to the Round of 16 a fortnight ago, strengthened their status as a strong contender for the 2015 title.
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“My players put on a good performance today, keeping good possession of the ball and putting our opponents under a lot of pressure when they had it,” said Persipura coach Oswaldo Lessa.
“We’re pleased to get the points that ensure we remain the group leaders and I hope in our last group tie against Bengaluru we are able to secure the point we need to claim the group.”
It could have all begun so differently, though, as in the just the second minute of the game Warriors, yet to pick up a point in this year’s AFC Cup, saw forward Nicholas Velez hit the post.
Persipura responded strongly, though, and the opener for the hosts was not unexpected as defender Paulin fired home from a corner 17 minutes later.
The home side continued to enjoy the lion’s share of the ball and with four minutes remaining of the first half, Kabes was on target from inside the penalty area to double the lead.
Solossa then had a brace of chances following the re-start, first denied by Warriors custodian Muhammad Aziz and then the woodwork, before scoring the match’s third on 53 minutes.
The Persipura skipper then needed just three further minutes before he netted a second from just outside the six-yard box, with Kabes firing home a curling effort from range to make the scoreline 5-0 just before the hour mark.
And the Jayapura-based club had several more chances to extend the lead before second half substitute Pangkali eventually wrapped up the scoring with two minutes of the tie remaining, with a stunning long range free-kick that beat the overworked Aziz for the sixth and final time.
“The first half we played quite well, but in the second half we had a difficult time in implementing our strategy on the game,” said Warriors coach Alex Weaver.
“The Persipura players put us under a lot of tight pressure and as a result our players lost focus and concentration.”
Photo: WSG