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Persija Jakarta ended an eight-game winless skid against Persipura Jayapura on Tuesday after beating the Indonesian Super League leader 1-0 at Mandala Krida Stadium in Yogyakarta.

A Bambang Pamungkas penalty in the 44th minute was enough to give the Kemayoran Tigers the victory in a match that was marred by fan violence just five minutes from the end.

Persipura stayed in first place despite the loss after Papuan rival and second-place Persiwa Wamena lost 2-0 at PSPS Pekanbaru on Tuesday. Persipura leads the standings with 24 points from 12 matches, one ahead of Persiwa and two clear of third-place Sriwijaya FC, which has a game in hand.

Persija rose to seventh with 16 points from nine games.

“I’m so glad that we finally ended our poor record against the Black Pearls,” Persija coach Iwan Setiawan said. “The boys worked very hard for this victory. But I think it was a lucky win for us because Persipura played better throughout the match.”

The match was Persija’s second home fixture in Yogyakarta while its usual home ground, Gelora Bung Karno in Jakarta, undergoes renovations. Just as in Friday’s 2-1 loss to Persiwa, the capital club never got comfortable.

Persipura controlled the match despite the absence of star striker Boaz Solossa due to a foot injury. It failed to capitalize on its chances, though, thanks in large part to a superb performance by Persija goalkeeper Andritany Ardhiyasa, who made several stellar saves to frustrate the Black Pearls.

Persija spent most of the match hemmed in its own end but received a stroke of luck on a counter-attack when Ismed Sofyan’s cross hit Bhio Paulin’s hand inside the box. Bambang converted the spot kick for his fourth goal of the season.

Club captain Bambang said he was relieved by the victory, with Persija having lost its last six and drawn two in all competitions against Persipura.

“Persipura proved that they are still the best team in the country, but unfortunately, in football the winner is the one who scores more goals,” he said. “We must not be carried away with the win because there are lots of games to go in the season.”

Persipura coach Jacksen Tiago was left ruing his side’s missed chances.

“We controlled the match, had better ball possession and lots of goal chances. In the second half, Persija didn’t event cross their half,” the Brazilian said. “We really missed Boaz’s sharpness up front. It would’ve been different if he played.”

Clashes broke out in the east tribune five minutes from full time. Witnesses said Persipura supporters began throwing projectiles toward Persija fans, with news portal Vivanews reporting that two fans and a policeman were injured before order was restored.

In Pekanbaru, Herman Dzumafo Epandi gave PSPS the lead from the penalty spot in the 60th minute, scoring his eighth goal of the year. Zainal Arif added the second in the 72nd minute at Kaharudding Nasution Stadium.

PSPS moved up to eighth in the breakaway ISL, level on 16 points with Persija and ninth-place Persisam Samarinda but separated by goal difference.

In the officially sanctioned Indonesian Premier League, Arema FC was rocked on Tuesday after seven players submitted resignation letters to the club.

It was a staggering blow for the club based in Malang, East Java, coming just two days after Singapore striker Noh Alam Shah walked out on the club.

Arema spokesman Noor Ramadhan confirmed that seven players had sent official requests to end their contracts with the club immediately.

“There are seven players who want to quit the club after we lost to Persiba Bantul [on Sunday]. They didn’t explain why in the letters,” he said.

He refused to name the players, but newsportal Detik reported that they were goalkeeper Kurnia Meiga, defenders Sunarto and Dendi Santoso, midfielders M. Ridhuan, Hendro Siswanto and Al Farizi and striker Talaohu Abdul Musyafri.

Arema management had agreed to end its contract with Alam Shah, Noor said, but it had yet to decide on the request by the other seven players.

The club, which has a doppleganger in the ISL, has been in turmoil since it decided to sack head coach Milomir Seslija last month and replace with him Dejan Antonic. It is now eighth in the 12-team IPL.