Piala President’s Cup Final 2025
Si Jalak Harupat, Bandung, Indonesia
Sunday 13 July 2025
Oxford United… 1
(Harris 8’)
Port FC… 2
(Teerasak 44’, Perea 48’)
Oxford United fell to a 2-1 defeat in the final of the Piala President’s Cup to Port FC, as they rounded off the tour of Indonesia.
Having taken the lead in the first half, the Thai team responded twice in a game which will be most remembered for the biblical rain which halted the game for close to 20-minutes.
United now return to England as preparations continue for the Championship season, with four pre-season games on home soil before the opening game of the season against Portsmouth on 9 August.
In true Indonesian fashion, the final began with a ceremony to befit. First, one of the most famous singers in the country performed to the crowd, before the team walked out and listed to a rendition of the country’s national anthem.
Once the party was over, it was time for the football to begin, and Oxford United got underway for the final time in Indonesia, taking on the Thai outfit, Port FC.
Having defeated Indonesia All Star 6-3, and fellow Indonesian side Arema FC 4-0, United were in the final of the Piala President’s Cup. While it’s early in pre-season, the game still provided an opportunity to pick up some silverware.
Starting quickly in each of the games so far in Indonesia, United done so again in Bandung, with Mark Harris scoring inside five minutes. It was a well-constructed goal, with Tyler Goodrham knocking the ball into the path of Harris who confidently stroked home for his third goal of the tournament. After initially being called off for offside, it was eventually overturned and the goal stood.
It was all United at this point, as they ramped up the pressure on Port, with good opportunities for Przeymslaw Placheta, and the biggest one falling to Michal Helik who had a header from point blank range saved by the goalkeeper.
Against the odds, it was the Thai team that equalised a minute before the break. Their number 14, Teerasak, got the goal, and it was an outstanding dink finish from the left of the box over Matt Ingram to bring the sides into the break level.
As the teams came out for the second period, it started in farcical fashion. One of the most extreme downpours of rain lashed onto the Si Jalak for kick off, and quickly the game became almost unplayable.
During this chaos, Port FC went in front as another forward, Perea, latched onto a ball which stopped in the rain, and he managed to slot under Ingram on the 48th minute.
Three minutes later and the game came to an unfortunate halt. A completely unacceptable challenge from Port’s captain Tanaboon on Brian De Keersmaecker saw the player sent off, and with it the game halted as the Oxford players were brought over to the touchline.
The game was clearly not in a position to continue, and there was around a 20-minute delay as mops and brushes came out to try and clear the immense amount of water off the pitch.
Eventually, the game got back underway as United pushed to get back into the game, but the conditions made it difficult for any real football to be played in what was now an incredibly scrappy encounter.
Gary Rowett’s side pushed for the equaliser, but it wouldn’t come, with captain Elliott Moore missing the best opportunity deep into stoppage time. With that, the tour ended in defeat. New friends were made along the journey in the Far East in what was a memorable time in Indonesia. Now, we head back to get ready for the next friendly away to Mansfield on Tuesday 22 July.
Oxford United: Ingram, Phillips (Kioso 46’), Helik (Moore 54’), Lacey (Griffiths 74’), Currie (McIntyre 54’), Brannagan, De Keersmaecker (Vaulks 54’), Goodrham (Mills 46’), Placheta (O’Donkor 54’), Snowden (Sibley 54’), Harris (Bradshaw 54’).
