Match Report
The table gap was wide: 22 points between Persela (6th, 41 pts) and Persiba Balikpapan (9th, 19 pts). On recent form Persiba Balikpapan sat only 18th league-wide over the last five rounds, well short of their 9th overall. Against a league average of 1.39 goals per team per game, Persela ran at 1.26 scored and 0.96 conceded, Persiba Balikpapan at 0.85 and 1.56.
Persiba Balikpapan had drawn their last three.
Stadion Surajaya, capacity 16,000, hosted the game. Half-time and full-time told different stories: it was 0-0 at the break, before 2 more goals closed it at 2-0.
Goal scorers
Persela: Mochamad Adam Malik (55'), Risqki Putra Utomo (79')
Key stats
Possession: Persela 44% · Persiba Balikpapan 56% · Total shots: 11-10 · On target: 4-6 · Corners: 3-4