Madura United's Unlikely Journey: Struggling in Liga 1 but Advancing to the AFC Challenge League Semifinals
Madura United is experiencing an unusual season in 2024-25, where despite being consistently stuck in the relegation zone of the Liga 1 standings, they have secured a spot in the semifinals of the AFC Challenge League, where they will face a team from Cambodia. The team began the Liga 1 2024 season on a shaky note, dealing with three managerial changes and a reshuffling of players. This followed a 2023 season where Madura United had reached the final of the Liga 1 Championship Series but lost to Persib Bandung.
Initially, Madura United was placed 9th in the Liga 1 standings. However, by the fourth week of the season, they dropped into the relegation zone, where they have remained through the 25th week, with only 21 points from 25 matches. Unless their form improves soon, there is a real risk of relegation to Liga 2 next season. Despite their struggles in the domestic league, Madura United has made impressive progress in international competitions.
Recently, they advanced to the semifinals of the 2024 AFC Challenge League after a convincing 3-0 win over Taiwan’s Tainan City. The match, held at Gelora Joko Samudro Stadium on March 13, saw goals from Iran Junior, Lulinha, and Youssef Ezzejjari, securing the aggregate win with a 3-0 scoreline.
With their semifinal spot secured, Madura United now prepares to face Cambodia’s SvayRieng, a team they are familiar with, having previously defeated 2-1 in the group stages of the same competition. The two teams will face off in a two-legged semifinal, with matches scheduled for April 9 and 16, 2025.
Madura United remains the only Indonesian club still in contention in the AFC Challenge League, as Persib Bandung was eliminated earlier in the AFC Champions League Two 2024 group stages.
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