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Crazy Lions Claw Past Persija to Take 2nd Place
Wimbo Satwiko | June 19, 2011

Greg Nwokolo, center, scored a brace in Persija Jakarta’s 3-0 win over PSPS Pekanbaru in its final Indonesian Super League match at Gelora Bung Karno on Sunday. The capital club’s efforts were not enough, though, as Arema Indonesia thrashed Bontang FC 8-0 to secure second place and a return to the AFC Champions League. (Antara Photo) Greg Nwokolo, center, scored a brace in Persija Jakarta’s 3-0 win over PSPS Pekanbaru in its final Indonesian Super League match at Gelora Bung Karno on Sunday. The capital club’s efforts were not enough, though, as Arema Indonesia thrashed Bontang FC 8-0 to secure second place and a return to the AFC Champions League. (Antara Photo)
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Having eased to last season’s league title, Arema Indonesia needed every minute of this season to make sure it returned to the AFC Champions League.

The Crazy Lions mauled Bontang FC 8-0 in Malang, East Java, on Sunday to edge out Persija Jakarta for second place on goal difference, giving them a place in the Champions League playoffs.

Persija put on its own clinical display, beating PSPS Pekanbaru 3-0 at Gelora Bung Karno, but Arema’s domination of lifeless, bottom-dwelling Bontang gave the edge. Arema and Persija finished level on 52 points and 52 goals as each side beat the other 2-1 at home, but the Crazy Lions’ goal difference of 27 beat out Persija’s 24.

The capital’s Kemayoran Tigers will have to make do with a place in next season’s AFC Cup.

Persija coach Rahmad Darmawan lauded his players’ effort, even though he said their overeagerness to score led to some critical mistakes.

“They wanted to win very badly, and they ended up playing careless football,” Rahmad said.

“It’s football. You could have 15 chances and still get only three goals. Today the boys played with a lot of heart. They didn’t care about the other match that was going on in other places,” he added. “Even though we placed third, I’m still thankful with the result. I hope we can still play in the AFC Cup.”

Persija played in Jakarta for the first time in weeks, having previously failed to secure a police permit to play at the national stadium.

Greg Nwokolo finished with a double for Persija and Agu Casmir scored one goal against PSPS.

For Arema, it was an encouraging end to a season that was marred by financial struggles.

The 2010 league winner was put up for sale last month after management revealed that it was in debt and could no longer pay its players’ salaries.

Faced with those financial distractions and playing without Singaporean stars Noh Alam Shah and Muhammad Ridhuan, Arema found a way to rise above its troubles and took advantage of a lifeless Bontang side without its leading scorer, 15-goal striker Kenji Adachihara.

Talaohu Abdul Musyafri scored in the first and eighth minutes, sending Arema on its way. Yongki Aribowo finished with a hat-trick while Roman Chmelo scored a brance and Achmad Amirudin added another.

Bontang, which finished with more losses (19) than points (15) this season, takes on Persidafon Dafonsoro in a promotion/relegation playoff on Wednesday.

Persipura Jayapura, which sealed its second Super League title with three matches to go, finished with 60 points. The Black Pearls drew 1-1 with Semen Padang, which secured fourth place with 48 points after being promoted from the Premier Division at the start of the season.

Elsewhere on Sunday, Persib Bandung thumped Deltras Sidoarjo 4-0 and Sriwijaya FC drew 0-0 with Persela Lamongan.