Even though they won the title in the East Java Governor's Cup competition, Tuesday (24/12), Arema Cronous Indonesia remained enthusiastic when they carried out a trial with the Malaysian team, Trengganu FC, Thursday (26/12) at the Kanjuruhan stadium, Kepanjen, Malang Regency.
Arema's camp fielded many of its second-string players. However, this match was still enjoyable to watch. Since the first minute, Suharno's team appeared to be pressing. Through several of its front players such as Beto Goncalves, Christian Gonzales and Samsul Arif, they made inroads into the opponent's defense.
Kubu Trengganu got a chance to score in the 12th minute through their midfielder, Marcio Souza Da Silva. However, his shot was still wide of Arema's goal. The visiting team did not want to give up easily and continued to provide fierce resistance. It seemed that they did not want to lose even though they were the visiting team.
Arema got a chance to score a goal in the 32nd minute through headings defender, Thiery Gattusi. Unfortunately, Thiery's header still deviated from Trengganu's side of the goal, which at that time was being guarded by M Shamiza B Yusof. Even though both teams attacked each other, until halftime, the position did not change, 0-0.
Entering the second half, Arema did not lower the tension of their attack, and several times almost resulted in goals. The hard work of the children of the team nicknamed Singo Edan only paid off in the 76th minute through the feet of one of the midfielders, I Gede Sukadana. After a melee in the Trengganu FC penalty box, the small player managed to shoot the round ball into the opponent's goal.
The score changed to 1-0 for Arema's temporary advantage. Trailing by one goal, the boys under H Abdul Rahman BH Ibrahim refused to give up and continued to put up a fierce fight. Their efforts were not in vain, and in the 89th minute one of Trengganu FC's defenders, Ismail Faruqi B Ashari, managed to put the ball into Arema's goal.
Although it is very unfortunate, because Trengganu FC's reply goal was created in the final minutes before the match ended, Arema had to accept this reality. And until the 90th minute and extra time in the second half, the score did not change, a draw of 1-1. (say/dmb)
