Persija Jakarta defeated Persijap Jepara 2-0 in week 16 of the Super League 2025/2026 at Stadion Utama Gelora Bung Karno in Jakarta on Saturday, January 3, 2026. The win propelled the Macan Kemayoran to second place in the temporary standings with 35 points, displacing Persib Bandung to third. Goals were scored by Arlyansyah Abdulmanan and Aditya Warman in the second half.
The match at Stadion Utama Gelora Bung Karno was intense. In the first half, Persija dominated with chances from Allano Lima, Hanif Sjahbandi, and Van Basty Sousa, but failed to score thanks to saves by Persijap's goalkeeper, Sendri Johansah. Persijap threatened through Carlos Franca in the 14th minute, though his shot went wide.
The second half marked a turning point. Persija played more aggressively following tactical adjustments by coach Mauricio Souza. The first goal came in the 61st minute via Arlyansyah Abdulmanan, who finished a pass from Hanif Sjahbandi. Aditya Warman doubled the lead with a spectacular shot in the 79th minute. Persija's goalkeeper, Carlos Eduardo, kept the clean sheet until the end.
Souza was pleased with the second-half improvements, though he acknowledged early ineffectiveness. "We circulated the ball a lot and imposed our game in the first half. However, we didn't do many finishing attempts," he said. He explained the absence of Jordi Amat and Emaxwell due to fatigue after the December 29, 2025, match against Bhayangkara FC, and yellow card risks for Emaxwell. "First, because we had very little rest time. Both also felt excessive fatigue," he added.
Persijap coach Divaldo Alves acknowledged the opponents' superiority. "Persija's playing quality was very evident. Honestly, Persija's players are exceptional and top-notch. Congratulations to them for getting the three points," he said. Persijap player Sudi Abdallah regretted the loss of concentration. "We actually had some chances, but didn't execute them well," he stated.
This result leaves Persijap stuck at 17th with 9 points and winless in 11 straight games. Persija now awaits the clash with Persib, while Persijap faces Dewa United on January 12, 2026.
