Dewa United FC 2-1 PSS Sleman — Indonesian Liga 1, Sunday 20 September 2026, 16:30

Dewa United FC came from a goal down to beat PSS Sleman 2-1 in an entertaining Liga 1 encounter on Sunday afternoon. In a match that swung back and forth, the hosts showed the kind of resilience that has made them a difficult opponent for anyone in the division, recovering from an early setback and then holding firm through a tense final stretch.

• Final score: Dewa United FC 2-1 PSS Sleman
• Competition: Indonesian Liga 1 (BRI Liga 1)
• Kick-off: 16:30 local time, Sunday 20 September 2026
• Pattern of the game: Away side scored first; Dewa United replied twice
• Key theme: Second-half control and clinical finishing

Match overview

The visitors made the brighter start. PSS Sleman pressed with purpose in the opening 20 minutes, denying Dewa United time on the ball and forcing a series of hurried passes. Their reward came from a set piece, when a delivery into the box was met with a firm header that gave the goalkeeper no chance.

Trailing at home, Dewa United responded the way a well-coached side should: by slowing the game down and re-establishing control. Their midfield began to dominate possession, and the equaliser arrived before half-time, Egy Maulana Vikri drifting in from the left and curling a precise finish beyond the goalkeeper from the edge of the area.

The second half belonged to the hosts. Dewa United pushed higher, won the ball back more quickly, and took the lead through a well-worked move that ended with a composed finish inside the box. PSS Sleman threw bodies forward in the closing stages and created one or two nervy moments, but the home defence held its shape and saw the game out.

Key moments

• Early blow: PSS Sleman take the lead from a set piece in the first 20 minutes.
• Growing control: Dewa United settle into the game and start dictating tempo.
• Equaliser: Egy Maulana Vikri curls one in from distance to level before half-time.
• Turnaround: A slick passing move ends with the hosts taking a 2-1 lead after the break.
• Late resistance: Dewa United defend a series of crosses and long throws to protect the win.

Tactical story: midfield control and patient build-up

The match turned on the midfield battle. In the opening quarter, PSS Sleman's pressing forced Dewa United into direct passes and conceded possession cheaply. Once the hosts began positioning a midfielder between the lines, that pressure was neutralised, and the game became one-directional.

Dewa United's attacking play was patient rather than rushed. They circulated the ball, waited for the visiting defence to shift out of position, and then attacked the space with quick combinations. Both goals came from that pattern: a deliberate build-up followed by a sudden acceleration in the final third.

PSS Sleman's approach was more direct. They looked to win free-kicks and throw-ins in advanced areas and load the box, which produced their goal and a handful of late chances. But defending deep for long spells drained their legs, and the gaps that appeared in the second half proved decisive.

Standout players

Egy Maulana Vikri was the game's most influential attacking player, as dangerous dropping into midfield as he was running at defenders. His equalising goal changed the mood of the match. Alongside him, Dewa United's central midfielders controlled the rhythm of the game, repeatedly winning second balls and setting the tempo of the build-up.

For PSS Sleman, the goalscorer from the set piece was their brightest performer, while their goalkeeper made several important saves either side of half-time to keep the deficit to a single goal and give his side a chance.

Table and season impact

Victory keeps Dewa United firmly in the upper half of the Liga 1 standings and extends an encouraging run of home form. Coming from behind is a valuable habit for a side with ambitions of challenging for a top-four finish, and the mental resilience shown here will be a talking point among the coaching staff.

PSS Sleman's away defeat leaves them searching for consistency. Their organisation and set-piece threat are genuine strengths, but the inability to hold a lead on the road is an issue they will want to address quickly as the season tightens.

What comes next

Dewa United now face another demanding Liga 1 fixture as they look to keep climbing, while PSS Sleman return home hoping to turn narrow defeats into results. Both sides showed enough quality in this contest to suggest their seasons are far from defined by a sin