Rahmad Darmawan - Arema FC Truly Deserved the Win!

IKUT SUMBANG GOL: Salim Tuharea (tengah) berusaha melewati Iqbal gwijangge
pada pertandingan pekan ke-10 BRI liga 1 di Stadion Sultan Agung, Bantul, kemarin (1/11)

R.Darmawan - Arema FC Truly Deserved the Win!

BANTUL – Arema FC’s mission to seek redemption against Barito Putera was a resounding success! Yesterday (November 1), Singo Edan claimed a 3-1 victory over the Laskar Antasari at Sultan Agung Stadium, Bantul, delivering an exciting performance that saw them move up to 7th place in the BRI Liga 1 2024/2025 standings with 15 points.

This win was especially sweet for Arema FC. They lost both encounters against Barito Putera in the previous season, including a tight 0-1 defeat at Stadion Demang Lehman in Banjar. But this time, they were determined to turn the tables.

Arema’s head coach, Joel Cornelli, praised his team for their outstanding play from the very first half. Arkhan Fikri and his teammates executed a high-pressing strategy that left Barito Putera struggling to gain control of the ball, barely giving them space to breathe.

"We created so many chances. Eventually, we took the lead, which was well-deserved," Cornelli said after the match.


Brazilian forward William Marcilio was the one who broke the deadlock, netting the first goal from a penalty in the 33rd minute. Shortly after halftime, young winger Salim Tuharea doubled the score to 2-0 in the 65th minute, firing up the Arema supporters.

Yet, as the game wore on, Cornelli noticed his team’s tempo start to dip, allowing Barito Putera a sliver of opportunity. They took it, with Muhammad Firly scoring 25 minutes later to narrow the gap. But Arema wasn’t finished! In the final seconds of stoppage time, Hamzah Titofani sealed the win with a third goal, sending fans into a frenzy.

Cornelli noted that while the team’s energy faded a bit in the second half, there was a lot to celebrate about this performance. "Overall, this was the best game my players have played all season,” he said with pride. The team was finally fulfilling the vision he’d set for them from the start of the campaign.

Arema’s ball possession numbers backed up Cornelli’s assessment. They held 54% of the game, dominating Barito Putera and recording a total of 14 goal attempts, with seven on target. This level of dominance is a positive sign as they look forward to their next match.

"This game has given us a solid foundation to build on for future matches,” said the 57-year-old coach, eyeing the challenges ahead.

Meanwhile, Barito Putera’s head coach, Rahmad Darmawan, was gracious in defeat, admitting that Arema played the better game. According to him, his team struggled with hesitation from the start. "The players were holding back; they were afraid to make mistakes," he observed.

However, he did commend his team’s improved performance in the second half, which led to their lone goal. Yet, Arema’s cool composure, particularly in the midfield, kept Barito Putera from mounting a comeback.


"Congratulations to Arema FC. They truly deserved this win," Darmawan acknowledged.


With this victory, Arema FC has boosted their points tally to 15, placing them in 7th position on the league table. However, with other teams yet to complete their 10th-week fixtures, their standing might still shift.

Next up, Arema FC will hit the road again, heading to face Madura United on November 21, 2024. The Singo Edan faithful will be hoping this upward momentum continues as their team battles its way up the standings!

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#indonesian league
#menang
#arema fc
#rahmad darmawan