Persiku Kudus secured a hard-fought 2-1 home victory over Persiba Balikpapan in the Indonesian Liga 2 on January 18, 2026. The match, which began at 16:30, was an entertaining encounter that provided plenty of action for the fans in attendance. Kudus started strongly and took the lead midway through the first half with a powerful header from a corner. They doubled their advantage early in the second period with a clinical finish on the counter-attack. Persiba Balikpapan refused to give up and pulled a goal back with fifteen minutes remaining, setting up a nervy finale. The visitors pushed everyone forward in search of an equalizer, but the Kudus defense held firm under pressure to secure the three points. This important win boosts Persiku Kudus's promotion hopes in Liga 2, moving them up the league table, while Persiba will be disappointed not to have taken something from a game where they showed great spirit.