United book place in President's Cup final with comfortable win
The win backed up the 6-3 success in the Group A opener against a Liga Indonesia All-Star side
Przemyslaw Placheta gave the U's an early lead against Arema, the 2024 winners, while Ole Romeny doubled the advantage just a few minutes later.
United academy graduate Leo Snowden netted the third goal of the evening just before half-time at the Si Jalak Harupat Stadium in Bandung, while Gatlin O'Donkor headed in the fourth with 20 minutes left on the clock.
Five minutes into the game, a floodlight failure ensured the match was delayed for more than 20 minutes, and soon after the clash kicked off again, United nudged in front.
Jack Currie directed a deep cross over to Placheta on the far side, and the Polish winger finished smartly at the back post.
As quickly as the U's took the lead, they then doubled it. Josh Johnson played a great ball over the top and Romeny finished with aplomb past Lucas Frigeri in the Arema goal.
There was then concern for Indonesia superstar Romeny, who was on the receiving end of a crunching challenge from Brazilian attacker Valdeci, shown a yellow card for the tackle.
Romeny couldn't continue and was cheered off the pitch on a stretcher by the supporters who have quickly grew to idolise him. Louie Sibley replaced Romeny in the attacking midfield role behind Tom Bradshaw.
Seven minutes before the break, Placheta cut inside from the right-hand side onto his left foot, however his low effort was claimed with relative ease by Arema goalkeeper Frigeri.
United added a third goal before half-time, as Sibley did well down the right-hand side to then pick out Snowden, who managed to touch the ball over the line from close range.
There was one final opportunity for the U's to get on the scoresheet in the first half, when Currie crossed for Bradshaw, whose header teed up a volley for Sibley on the edge of the penalty area, but the midfielder smashed over the crossbar and the offside flag went up against Bradshaw regardless.
Gary Rowett made four changes at the break, introducing Michal Helik, Will Vaulks, Stan Mills and Mark Harris for Peter Kioso, Cameron Brannagan, Snowden and Bradshaw.
Further alterations were made just after the hour mark, as Aaron Lacey and O'Donkor replaced the impressive Johnson and Placheta.
O'Donkor scored the fourth goal of United's evening, attacking a Vaulks cross from the right to head in from close range.
Arema FC (3-4-1-2): Frigeri; Motta (Bayu Setiawan 46), Lira, Koerich; Tuharea (Balinsa 46), Hariono (Dedik Setiawan 67), Guevara (Mardiyanto 67), Alfarizi; Valdeci; Paulino, Dalberto (Rifai 88).
Unused subs:
Booked: Valdeci, Bayu Setiawan.
Oxford United (4-2-3-1): Cumming; Kioso (Helik 46), Moore (McIntyre 76), Johnson (Lacey 62), Currie; Brannagan (Vaulks 46), De Keersmaecker (Griffiths76); Placheta (O'Donkor 62), Romeny (Sibley 17), Snowden (Mills 46); Bradshaw (Harris 46).
Unused subs: Ingram, Eastwood, Knightbridge.
Booked: Brannagan, Currie.
Referee: Wimat Jumpaoon.
Attendance: TBC
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