Persepam Madura Utd Turn the Tide in Tangerang: Dewa United Stunned by Late Double in Liga 1 Upset

On a humid Thursday afternoon at the Banten International Stadium, the mood shifted palpably as the clock ticked into the final quarter of an hour. What began as a predictable script for home-favored Dewa United—sixth in the Liga 1 standings and brimming with recent momentum—was ultimately shredded by two swift, surgical strikes from Persepam Madura Utd, a club that had not tasted victory in over a month and whose league position had marked them as clear underdogs coming in.

For nearly seventy-five minutes, the encounter mirrored the pre-match prognosis. Dewa United, whose run of form had seen them collect 11 points from their opening eight fixtures, controlled much of the rhythm and seemed on course for at least a share of the spoils. Their midfield, this season a reliable metronome, kept the ball moving with purpose, and the home crowd—accustomed to seeing their side prevail in such fixtures after recent home triumphs over PSBS Biak Numfor and Persik Kediri—settled in with cautious optimism.

But matches, especially in the unpredictable theater of Liga 1, are often decided by moments that refuse reason. In the 75th minute, Persepam Madura Utd—who had managed just one win in their opening eight games and averaged less than a goal per match—finally found the crack in Dewa’s armor. The breakthrough materialized almost out of nothing: a deep cross eluded the Dewa defense, and a Persepam attacker, lurking astutely at the back post, lashed home from close range. The away contingent, quiet to that point, erupted in rare celebration as the scoreboard flipped the narrative of the afternoon.

Stunned by the reversal, Dewa United pressed forward with greater urgency, their possession now carrying a tinge of desperation. For all their endeavor, however, a telling lack of sharpness haunted their final ball. The equalizer, despite several forays into the Persepam penalty area, remained elusive, and with every passing minute, the sense of frustration deepened.

It was Persepam who would deliver the final act. In the 86th minute, with Dewa stretched and vulnerable, a rapid counterattack carved open the hosts’ back line. The move was clinical—a swift exchange through midfield released a fresh-legged substitute, who guided his effort beyond Dewa’s goalkeeper and into the bottom corner. 2-0, and any lingering hopes of a Dewa comeback dissipated into the Tangerang haze.

For Persepam Madura Utd, this was more than just three points. The result snapped a dispiriting run—a sequence that had included stalemates with Bhayangkara FC and PSBS Biak Numfor and a heavy defeat at Malut United. With this win, they climb to 10 points for the season, gaining ground on a tightly bunched lower half of the table and injecting belief into a campaign that had been defined largely by missed opportunities and narrow margins.

Dewa United, meanwhile, are left to absorb a defeat that halts their progress and highlights a lingering vulnerability. Despite a recent unbeaten run—highlighted by tough away victories at Arema FC and confident home displays—this result serves as a jarring reminder that consistency, not flashes of quality, separates contenders from also-rans in a league as volatile as Indonesia’s top flight.

The two clubs have rarely produced dull meetings; their recent head-to-head history is littered with high-scoring draws and momentum swings, but this was the first time Persepam had left Dewa’s ground with all three points in recent memory. There were no red cards, but the match was not without incident: yellow cards were brandished as tempers briefly flared in the second half, further testament to the stakes and nerves on display. No individual in Dewa’s ranks could break the deadlock, and the disappointment at the final whistle was writ large across both the squad and the supporters.

The Liga 1 table now invites fresh scrutiny. Dewa United remain in sixth with 11 points, but the chasing pack is close, and with fixtures piling up, each misstep is magnified. For Persepam Madura Utd, the significance of this win cannot be overstated—they now sit within striking distance of mid-table, a prospect that seemed improbable just a week ago. With confidence restored, they will look to use this performance as a launchpad, while Dewa, forced to regroup, must reckon with the demands of a league that punishes complacency as swiftly as it rewards ambition.

October is a month that makes or unmakes seasons—and as dusk settled over Banten International, both teams were reminded of how quickly fortunes can turn in the chase for Liga 1 glory.