PSM Makassar club from Indonesia has to win the last game of this group After playing a thrilling game win over the Tampines Rovers team from Singapore with a score of 3-1 in the AFC Cup 2022 group stage Group H at KLFA Stadium, Kuala Lumpur.
The Indonesian side almost crafted an opportunity in the seventh minute when Wiljan Pluim tried to force his way into the Tampines Rovers’ box before Bryan Cesar closed in, forcing the Makassar captain to fire his long-range effort wide.
Despite Tampines Rovers being limited to counter-attacks, Bernardo Tavares’ Makassar continued to be wasteful in front of goal with Ramadhan Sananta failing to find the target at the quarter of the hour mark after Cesar had done well in providing a well-timed pass inside the area.
Makassar were left to rue their poor finishing as Tampines Rovers switched the tempo with Yasir Hanapi crossing into the area, forcing Cesar into a poor clearance with Mehmedovic then curling his effort over goalkeeper Reza Arya Pratama for the opener just before the half-hour mark.
Tampines Rovers’ celebrations were short-lived though as Christopher van Huizen was shown a straight red moments later for a poor challenge on Pratama, and the Singapore side was forced to defend with goalkeeper Syazwan Buhari pulling off a fine save to deny Pluim’s effort four minutes from the end of the first half.
Makassar, with the advantage of an extra man, started the second half with renewed energy and levelled the score three minutes into the restart with Pratama collecting a neat through ball from Pluim before squeezing past two defenders and blasting home from inside the six-yard-box.
Pratama then turned provider in the 79th minute when he gained possession from a poor clearance before setting up substitute Everton for an easy finish, who then scored from the penalty spot in added time to boost Makassar’s goal difference ahead of the Tampines Rovers-KL City tie on Thursday.
Credit Photo : Simon Yap/SNE Images