Persija Jakarta returned to winning ways after defeating Persebaya Surabaya 1-0 in the ninth matchweek of the 2026/2027 Super League, held at the Jakarta International Stadium (JIS) on Saturday 7 November 2026. Ivan Mamut's 89th-minute goal secured all three points for Macan Kemayoran and sent them back to the top of the provisional league Standings.
Following the conclusion of all ninth matchweek fixtures, Persija currently hold 21 points from 9 matches. The capital side carry a one-point advantage over second-placed Dewa United who have 20 points. Bali United and Madura United follow closely in third and fourth position respectively, both on 19 points.
Meanwhile, Persebaya remain in 8th place with 13 points. The Bajul Ijo sit one spot below 7th-placed Java United, who hold the same number of points but a superior goal difference.
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Despite securing maximum points from this fixture, Persija's performance still left several areas for evaluation. The condition of the JIS pitch, attacking efficiency and squad depth were all topics discussed on the ITSMe Podcast alongside football analyst Kesit B Handoyo and Erwin Fitriansyah.
Kesit congratulated Persija on their victory, however he judged that neither side performed at their optimal level. Persija struggled to build structured attacking play, while Persebaya also failed to apply consistent pressure throughout the match.
"Persija's play yesterday was stagnant and never found proper flow. It was exactly the same story for Persebaya," stated Kesit.
Away from on-pitch performances, the condition of the JIS playing surface also came under heavy scrutiny. Kesit stated the pitch quality requires urgent improvement, a concern also echoed by Persija defender Rizky Ridho, as well as head coach Shin Tae-yong.
From a tactical perspective, Erwin Fitriansyah observed that Persija put in a much improved performance compared to their previous fixture against Dewa United. A key factor was Shin Tae-yong's decision to revert to a single striker system, abandoning the two-forward setup deployed in their prior match.
Persija also received a squad boost with the return to availability of Fabio Calonego and Denis Kolinger. Alexander Jeremejeff was unavailable for selection after contracting influenza, opening the opportunity for Ivan Mamut to step up and score the winning goal.
Kesit also noted that Francisco Israel Rivera's 73rd minute substitution significantly blunted Persebaya's attacking threat. Once the Mexican midfielder was replaced by Yann Mabella, Bajul Ijo's offensive play completely lost rhythm. Kesit also praised Shin Tae-yong's sharp in-game reading and tactical adjustments.
Separately, Erwin stated that Persebaya still have major improvements to make if they wish to become competitive contenders in the Super League. He noted that the club's pre-season President's Cup success is yet to translate into consistent league form.
He also raised concerns over Persebaya's recent full squad overhaul policy, pointing out that releasing established senior players carries inherent risk, as new signings require adaptation time. To date, the majority of Persebaya's new arrivals are yet to deliver the expected impact.
For Persija, this victory over Persebaya represents a critical milestone in the title race. Kesit emphasised that any team with championship ambitions must secure maximum points from every home fixture. In a league where the gap at the top is this tight, dropping points on home ground can prove decisive for the final standings.
Kesit also believes the foundations of a title-winning Persija squad are starting to form. Alexander Jeremejeff and Ivan Mamut show major potential to form a dangerous forward partnership, while Arlyansyah Abdulmanan and Stjepan Loncar are also showing encouraging development.
That said, Erwin warned that Shin Tae-yong still has outstanding work to address, particularly in the defensive sector. Persija need to secure adequate backup options for first choice defenders Denis Kolinger and Radovan Pankov for when either is unavailable.
This full discussion took place on the ITSMe Podcast alongside football analysts Erwin Fitriansyah and Kesit B Handoyo. The recording was hosted by Gilang Respaty and Pudila at ITSMe Studio, Sentul, Bogor.
This win over Persebaya marks an important step for Persija as they look to maintain consistency this season. With Bali United, Madura United and Dewa United all breathing down their necks, Macan Kemayoran cannot afford to lose momentum if they wish to hold onto top spot and compete for the 2026/27 Super League title.
