PADANG (Interstat) — Semen Padang defeated Sumsel United 1-0 on Friday at Stadion GOR Haji Agus Salim in Padang, getting an 89th-minute goal from Junior after a match that remained scoreless deep into the second half. The home side improved its season record in the competition to 4 wins, 1 loss and 2 draws. Sumsel United dropped to 3 wins, 3 losses and 2 draws. Both clubs hold the same respective records across all competitions.

The first half produced little in the way of clear scoring chances but did not lack friction. Firjatullah M. of Semen Padang was shown a yellow card in the 23rd minute, and Habiby W. of Sumsel United was booked in the 43rd. Semen Padang made a change at halftime, with Spasojevic I. entering as a substitute in the 46th minute. Firjatullah M. was then replaced in the 59th minute, and Sumsel United made its first change in the 61st minute when Mochizuki H. came on. Semen Padang used two substitutions in the 72nd minute, sending on Rahmat and Lilipaly S. Sumsel United countered with Ngwoke K. in the 76th minute and Subhi A. in the 77th. Semen Padang’s Savio Roberto entered in the 86th minute, and Sumsel United made two late changes in the 90+4th minute, bringing on Bhagascara C. and Darmawan T.

The match remained level until the closing stages. Habiby W. was shown another yellow card in the 55th minute, leaving Sumsel United with a difficult path through the final half-hour. Lukmansyah Z. of Semen Padang was booked in the 87th minute. The breakthrough came in the 89th minute when Junior scored for Semen Padang, with Rezaldi Hehanussa credited with the assist. Rezaldi Hehanussa played the full 90 minutes and recorded one assist. Junior’s statline included one goal in 44 minutes and a yellow card, which he received in the 90+1st minute. Semen Padang protected the one-goal advantage through the remaining stoppage time to secure the home victory.

Sumsel United had entered the match after a draw at Bekasi City and had shown attacking promise in earlier wins over Persikad Depok and Persiku Kudus. The visitors could not convert their recent scoring form into a goal at Stadion GOR Haji Agus Salim. Semen Padang, meanwhile, added to a strong start that had included a road win at Persiku Kudus and a home draw with PSMS Medan. The result kept Semen Padang ahead of Sumsel United in the season standings and gave the home side a second consecutive victory in the competition. Sumsel United’s record in the competition remained 3 wins, 3 losses and 2 draws, while Semen Padang moved to 4 wins, 1 loss and 2 draws. The same records applied across all competitions for both clubs.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Sumsel United 2, Semen Padang 1. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Semen Padang with a 61.5 percent probability to win. Semen Padang had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of -1. The total score of 1 went over the over-under line of 2.5.