Persela Lamongan 1–1 Barito Putera: Hard‑fought draw in Liga 2 promotion race

Persela Lamongan and Barito Putera shared a 1‑1 draw at Lamongan’s Surajaya Stadium on 25 April 2026, a result that keeps both sides in the hunt for a promotion play‑off place. A tense second half saw Barito equalise from the penalty spot after Persela had taken the lead early on.

Match overview

Persela began aggressively and created the better chances in the opening quarter‑hour. Their pressure paid off in the 19th minute when a deflected shot found the net. Barito grew into the contest as the first half wore on and were rewarded after the interval. The draw reflects a balanced contest in which both sides defended resolutely when required.

Key moments

• 19' – Persela goal: Ahmad Bustomi’s shot from 20 yards took a wicked deflection off a Barito defender and looped over the stranded goalkeeper.
• 58' – Barito penalty: A clumsy challenge in the box by Persela right‑back Dimas Galih gave referee Sutopo no choice but to point to the spot. Captain Rizky Pora coolly converted.
• 75' – Barito near miss: A free‑kick struck the crossbar, with the rebound scrambled away before a Persela player could turn it home.

Tactical story

Persela set up to press Barito’s build‑up play and succeeded in forcing early turnovers. However, after the goal, they dropped deeper, allowing Barito to dominate possession (62%). Barito’s patient approach eventually created the penalty, but they struggled to find a clear chance from open play due to Persela’s compact low block.

Standout players

• Ahmad Bustomi (Persela): Active in midfield and involved in the opening goal; his energy helped Persela maintain shape after the equaliser.
• Rizky Pora (Barito): Stepped up to score the decisive penalty and marshalled the team from midfield.
• Barito defence: Apart from one unlucky deflection, they limited Persela to just one other shot on target.

Table impact

The draw leaves Persela in fifth place (33 points, +4 GD) and Barito in sixth (32 points, +1 GD). With seven matches remaining, both teams remain firmly in the promotion play‑off picture. The return leg in Banjarmasin could prove decisive for either side’s ambitions.