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Persija Jakarta suffered their second defeat of the Super League 2026-2027 season, falling 2-1 to Dewa United in a Week 8 match at the Banten International Stadium in Serang on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026. Kompas.com reported that Macan Kemayoran took an early lead through Rayhan Hannan in the fourth minute but could not maintain their advantage, eventually succumbing to two goals from the Banten Warriors.
The loss narrows the gap at the top of the Super League standings. As confirmed by ANTARA News, Persija remain in first place with 18 points from eight matches, but their lead is now reduced to just one point, with Dewa United moving into second place on 17 points.
Early Lead Squandered Amid Rising Pressure
Persija started the match brightly, taking the lead within the first four minutes. Rayhan Hannan capitalized on a loose ball in the penalty box, finishing from close range after an initial shot by Alexander Jeremejeff struck the post, as detailed by VIVA.co.id. However, the lead was short-lived. Dewa United responded with sustained pressure, equalizing in the 42nd minute when Denilson Junior headed home a cross, leveling the score at 1-1 before halftime.
The match’s complexion changed significantly in the second half. Persija’s task became considerably more difficult in the 65th minute when Dony Tri Pamungkas was shown a second yellow card for a foul on Rafael Struick, reducing Macan Kemayoran to 10 men. According to VIVA.co.id, the officiating was a point of contention, with a total of nine yellow cards shown during the match, six of them to Persija players.
Dewa United capitalized on their numerical advantage. In the 85th minute, substitute Taisei Marukawa, who came on from the bench, sealed the victory for the home side. He finished off a sequence following a shot from Ivar Jenner, putting the ball past the Persija goalkeeper to make it 2-1, a scoreline that would hold until the final whistle.
Coach and Captain Reflect on Costly Mistakes
In the aftermath of the defeat, Persija head coach Shin Tae-yong pointed to his team’s own performance as the primary cause of the loss. “Regarding today’s match, first of all, congratulations to the Dewa team. I feel that today’s defeat happened because we collapsed by our own doing,” the South Korean manager said at a post-match press conference, as reported by Kompas.com. He further elaborated on the team’s struggles, noting, “When we got good chances, we couldn’t score, and we ourselves made too many passing errors.”
Shin Tae-yong emphasized that the result would serve as a critical evaluation for the team as they prepare for upcoming fixtures. “Things like that must be improved for the future. I feel that the mistakes today purely came from ourselves,” he added. His sentiments were echoed by team captain Rizky Ridho, who acknowledged the team’s unforced errors. “Yes, I agree with the coach. We made many mistakes ourselves, especially many wrong passes,” Ridho stated, Kompas.com reported. “I myself made many mistakes today, so it becomes a lesson to stay focused and win at home in the next matches.”
Dewa United’s Resilient Performance and Momentum
The team had suffered a surprising 0-4 loss to Arema FC in their previous outing, a result that winger Taisei Marukawa called a key learning experience. “The last match (against Arema) became a very valuable lesson for Dewa United. It was precisely because of that defeat that we could rise and win today’s match,” Marukawa said, as noted by ILeague.id. He was later named Player of the Match for his impactful performance off the bench.
The win propels Dewa United into a tight race at the summit of the league. With the three points, they firmly establish themselves as contenders, trailing league-leader Persija by a single point. The match showcased Dewa United’s ability to overcome adversity and capitalize on opportunities, particularly after weathering an early storm from the away team. The performance also showed their tactical approach, which reportedly used a 4-2-3-1 formation with key attacking threats like Egy Maulana Vikri and Noah Sadaoui supporting Denilson Junior, as Radar Cirebon had predicted before the match.
What’s Next for Both Teams
Persija Jakarta will look to regroup quickly, turning their focus to two important upcoming matches. Their immediate attention is on an away trip to face PSMS Medan in the League Cup 2026-2027. More crucially, they will host arch-rivals Persebaya Surabaya in their next Super League fixture, a match Ridho indicated is a primary focus. “Of course, there is also PSMS Medan to face, but there is something more important, which is Persebaya as well. So we focus on that and introspect ourselves again to be better in the future,” Ridho explained to Kompas.com.
Dewa United, buoyed by their victory, will aim to build on this momentum in their subsequent fixtures. The tight race in the top five, with Bali United, Persib Bandung, and Madura United all tied on 16 points, ensures that every result will have significant implications for the remainder of the season.
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