JAKARTA (Interstat) — Persija Jakarta overcame an early deficit and beat Persik Kediri 2-1 at Jakarta International Stadium in Jakarta on Monday, using a two-goal burst in the second half to complete the comeback in the competition. Persik Kediri took the lead in the 10th minute when Imanol Garcia scored, and the visitors held that advantage into halftime. Persija Jakarta pressed for an equalizer after the break, and the match turned in a three-minute span. Denis Kolinger leveled in the 64th minute, and Persija Jakarta moved ahead in the 66th minute. The result improved Persija Jakarta to 6-1 in the competition and 6-1 across all competitions. Persik Kediri fell to 2-2 in the competition and 2-2 across all competitions.

Garcia’s early goal was the most important moment for Persik Kediri. He played the full 90 minutes and scored once. Persik Kediri protected the lead until Kolinger’s equalizer, and the visitors could not hold off Persija Jakarta’s response. Kolinger played 90 minutes, scored one goal, assisted one and received a yellow card in the 90+13 minute. Rizky Ramadhani, who played 44 minutes, was another key contributor with one goal; the goal log recorded the 66th-minute go-ahead goal as Ridho R. R. Hannan played 90 minutes and provided an assist for Persija Jakarta. Ernesto Gomez came on for Persik Kediri in the 46th minute and recorded an assist over 46 minutes.

Persija Jakarta’s comeback was the decisive passage of play. The visitors’ early lead had forced the hosts to chase the match, and Persija Jakarta’s response arrived after the interval. After a quiet first half for the hosts, Kolinger’s 64th-minute finish changed the match, and the quick second goal in the 66th minute put Persik Kediri under pressure for the final stretch. Persik Kediri had chances to respond but could not find a second goal. Persija Jakarta managed the closing stages while picking up late bookings, and the final whistle confirmed the home side’s sixth win in seven competition matches this season. The result left both sides to turn to their next fixtures.

Yellow cards accumulated on both sides. Persik Kediri’s Barbosa E. was cautioned in the 37th minute, Bayu Otto in the 58th, Djalo M. in the 65th, Jose Enrique in the 90+6 minute and Kiko in the 90+15 minute. Persija Jakarta’s Jeremejeff A. was cautioned in the 88th minute, Kolinger in the 90+13 minute and Pankov R. in the 90+14 minute. Persija Jakarta made a 22nd-minute substitution through Memija K., and Persik Kediri made a 34th-minute change through Sanjaya R. At the 46th minute, Persija Jakarta brought on Witan and Fabio Silva, while Persik Kediri brought on Gomez. Persik Kediri also made substitutions in the 64th minute through Asraf Huwaidi Syam M. D. and in the 75th minute through Bayu Otto and Park J. Persija Jakarta made two changes in the 90+1 minute through Pamungkas D. and Jeremejeff A.

Persik Kediri had entered the match after a 2-1 home win over PSS Sleman and a 1-0 loss at Persib Bandung. Persija Jakarta had entered after a 5-1 home win over Arema and a 3-2 loss at Persita. Both teams’ all-competitions records matched their competition records after the final whistle. Persija Jakarta’s next match is set against Persik, while Persik Kediri’s schedule continues after the result.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Persija Jakarta 2, Persik Kediri 1. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Persija Jakarta with an 84.5 percent probability to win. Persija Jakarta had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of -1.5. The total score of 3 went over the over/under line of 3.5.