Port FC Has Not Yet Reached Its Peak, PSMS Has Already Become the First Victim

Surabaya - Port FC have not performed at their peak standard. Head coach Sarawut Treephan openly admitted this himself immediately after the match concluded.

Yet this is exactly the quiet warning the reigning Piala Presiden champions have sent to every other competing side.

Even while their squad is still building pre-season match rhythm, Port FC secured a 2-0 victory over PSMS Medan in the opening Group B fixture of the 2026 Piala Presiden. The match was held at Gelora Bung Tomo Stadium, Surabaya on Sunday 26 July 2026.

These opening three points immediately put the Thai representative at the top of the provisional group standings, while reinforcing their status as one of the tournament's clear title favourites.

What makes this win notable goes far beyond the two goals scored by Noboru Shimura and Issam Abdallah. Port FC demonstrated they can fully control the flow of a match even when operating well below the maximum performance level their coach is working towards.

Game Plan Followed Exactly As Scripted

One day prior to kickoff, Sarawut had already warned his players not to underestimate PSMS. He assessed that the Medan-based side had solid tactical structure, relied on fast transition play and dangerous set pieces - making them a worthy opponent despite competing in the Liga Championship division.

This assessment proved accurate in the opening stages of the match.

PSMS played with tight discipline, successfully absorbing Port FC's pressure for the first 15 minutes. Eko Purdjianto's team operated in a compact defensive block while waiting for opportunities to launch counter attacks.

The balance of the match shifted in the 17th minute, when Noboru Shimura found space just outside the penalty box. His powerful long range shot beat goalkeeper Muhammad Natshir, and became the clear turning point of the fixture.

After taking the lead, Port FC settled into their characteristic style of play.

They slowed the game tempo when required, then accelerated sharply as soon as gaps opened in the PSMS defensive line.

Bruno Moreira repeatedly troubled the opposition defence, while a header from Shimura that struck the crossbar served as a clear warning that a second goal was only a matter of time.

Impact From The Substitute Bench

The second goal highlighted the impressive squad depth that Port FC possess.

Lucas Costa da Silva made an immediate impact after coming on as a substitute. His 54th minute delivery was finished cleanly by Issam Abdallah to double the lead to 2-0.

Port FC even had the chance to extend their winning margin from the penalty spot. However Ruan Ribeiro Rodrigues was unable to beat Muhammad Natshir, who produced an outstanding save to block the spot kick before securing the rebound.

For PSMS, Natshir's save at least prevented the defeat from becoming heavier. Ultimately though, the side struggled to create clear cut chances that properly threatened the Port FC goal.

An Unfinished Victory

Most notably, Sarawut refused to get carried away by the opening win.

The Thai coach emphasised this match was only one step in the team's pre-season build up ahead of the new campaign. For this reason, he played down Ruan Ribeiro's missed penalty.

He explained the penalty chance had been intentionally given to the new signing to build his confidence, even though Port FC had other established first choice penalty takers available.

For Sarawut, building match readiness across the entire squad during this pre-season phase matters far more than scoring one additional goal.

"This is our first official pre-season match. Of course we are happy to take the win, and I dedicate this victory to all the players," Sarawut stated after the match, as quoted by Antara News Agency.

This attitude reveals how Port FC are approaching the Piala Presiden. For them this tournament is not just about final results - it is an opportunity to test squad rotation, build on-pitch chemistry and refine their tactical system before the formal domestic season begins.

Bruno Moreira shared this same perspective. The former Persebaya player noted this opening win provides vital confidence momentum, especially given the tight tournament schedule and very short recovery windows between matches.

PSMS Still Have Opportunity To Recover

In the PSMS camp, defeat against the reigning champions is being treated as evaluation material, not a cause for panic.

Eko Purdjianto acknowledged that Port FC were clearly the better side in this opening fixture.

However he confirmed several players were yet to be fielded, and are in line to be included in the starting line up for their upcoming match against Persebaya.

"We recognise Port FC's quality today. We will make adjustments and improvements ahead of our second match," Eko stated.

Portuguese defender Angelo Meneses also noted that facing a side of Port FC's calibre is valuable preparation experience for PSMS ahead of the 2026/2027 Liga Championship season.

The Real Test Has Only Just Begun

While this opening win puts Port FC at the top of Group B's provisional standings, the true measure of their form will arrive when they face Persija Jakarta in their next fixture.

If they can reproduce this same level of control against a far stronger opponent, this victory over PSMS will not be remembered as just three routine opening points. It will be seen as the first clear signal that the defending champions are fully prepared to retain their title.

For PSMS meanwhile, their upcoming match against Persebaya will be their chance to prove this opening defeat was just an early part of their pre-season process, and not an accurate reflection of what the team is capable of this season.