PSMS Medan vs Persija Jakarta: Shayne Pattynama in squad for I.League Cup

PSMS Medan and Persija Jakarta opened Group A of the I.League Cup with a match that served as a testing ground for both teams, particularly for the Jakarta-based club. For Persija, the fixture provided an opportunity to give minutes to several players who have seen limited action in the ongoing Super League. Persija included Shayne Pattynama in the matchday squad for the first time. The player, a member of the Indonesia national team that recently won the FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026, had not appeared with Persija this season. In a notable absence, Shin Tae-yong was not present on the sidelines due to a health issue, prompting assistant coach Choi In-cheul to take charge of the team for the encounter in Medan. Choi, however, assured that the team’s preparation and tactical approach remained unchanged despite the coach’s absence. “We will do some rotation, but we prepared well and the players are ready,” Choi In-cheul said in a press conference ahead of the match. “Mentally, the players are also ready. So for tomorrow’s match, there is no problem.”

The assistant coach also clarified the rationale behind Persija’s selection of three foreign players—Kwon Chang-hoon, Kyohei Yoshino, and Kerim Memija—for the tournament. “Regarding the foreign players we brought, they have been in quite good condition recently. We assessed that the three of them can be important figures to maintain the balance and strength of the team in this League Cup,” Choi explained. “The decision was made after discussion with the coaching staff before we came here. From a fitness perspective, those three players are indeed in the fittest condition at the moment. That’s why we decided to bring them.”

The tactical setup for Persija saw them deploy a 4-3-3 formation, with a midfield trio consisting of Figo Dennis, Kyohei Yoshino, and Chang-Hoon Kwon. The visitors’ attack was spearheaded by Agi Firmansyah, Eksel Runtukahu, and Victor Dethan, giving the team a frontline looking to make an impact. PSMS Medan, on the other hand, entered the match with momentum from the Championship, where they secured two wins and one draw in their last three matches.

The home side’s key attacking threat was Javier Siverio, who has collected 11 goals. AFU.id reported that PSMS planned to maximize Siverio’s impact by utilizing the pace of Irfan Jauhari and Rangga Muslim to supply the striker. The home team’s lineup featured a 4-2-2 formation, with a midfield engine room designed to support the attack. Deden Natshir started in goal, anchoring a defense that included Samuel Simanjuntak, Angelo, Asyraq Gufron, and Rizdjar Nurviat. The midfield pairing of Irfan Jauhari and Abdul Zaki Alim aimed to control the tempo, while Rangga Muslim and Dani Saputra provided support from deeper positions. Up front, Siverio partnered with Muhammad Ragil in the attack. The historical record between the two sides favors Persija Jakarta. According to AFU.id, in their last seven encounters, Persija has won four times, PSMS has won twice, and one match ended in a draw. Their most recent meeting was in the 2026 President’s Cup, where Persija secured a 4-1 victory over PSMS, a result that Choi In-cheul mentioned as part of the team’s preparation.

“Even though we have previously faced PSMS in the President’s Cup and know their strength, including the quality of their foreign players, our preparation has gone well,” Choi stated, emphasizing his team’s readiness to compete. The I.League Cup provides both clubs with competition outside of the league schedule. For PSMS, it’s an opportunity to build on their form and test their squad depth.

For Persija, it represents a chance to find rhythm and confidence after a 1-2 defeat to Dewa United in their last Super League outing, as reported by AFU.id. The match was streamed live via the YouTube channel of RANS Entertainment, providing fans with free access to the action from the Utama Sumatera Utara Stadium. The kickoff at 19:00 WIB (local time) marked the beginning of Persija’s campaign in Group A, with their second group-stage fixture scheduled against Sumsel United at the Stadion Patriot Candrabhaga in Bekasi on Tuesday, November 24, 2026.

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