TFA U18 Girls Unbeaten: 3-1 Over Arema FC and Firmly Top of the Hydroplus League

TRIBUNJATIM.COM, SURABAYA - Tigers Football Academy (TFA) U18 Girls tightened their grip on top of the national Hydroplus League with an important 3-1 win over closest rivals Arema FC on Saturday 31 January.

The result keeps TFA unbeaten, now six points clear with four matches to play.

The Hydroplus League, run by the Bakti Olahraga Djarum Foundation together with HYDROPLUS, has been under way since October 2025 and has produced tight competition in every age group.

Founded in 2020 at Surabaya European School, TFA is a relative newcomer, yet it has quickly become one of the leading forces in girls' football.

Against Arema, TFA took the initiative from the first whistle and created a string of dangerous chances.

Rara Anindita Makes the Difference Again

That pressure brought the opening goal in the 21st minute through the league's top scorer, Rara Anindita, who finished with a perfect chip. TFA kept pushing, appealed for a penalty that was not given, and nearly added a second when Dinda Yosephine's fierce shot struck the crossbar.

At half-time head coaches Augustina and Udyk reminded the players to stay alert and not to switch off, expecting an Arema response.

Instead of being pushed back, TFA took even greater control. Rara was on the scoresheet again in the 39th minute after a clever run finished with a low shot, and Haviva Oktaditya made it three at the far post from a corner in the 59th minute. Arema pulled one back through Zahwa Citra in the 63rd minute, but it was not enough to change the outcome.

The win puts TFA six points clear of Arema with four games left, while Putri Meta and Srikandi Mojopahit remain strong contenders to watch as the league goes on.

“We aren't thinking about the nationals yet, we are just focused on one match at a time,” said head coach Augustina. Captain Carissa Rizky agreed: “In football anything can happen, and every team in this league has the quality to beat each other. We will keep improving and prepare for the next challenge.”

TFA U15 Bounce Back to Win 4-1

TFA defender Marzelita Zanuba reflected on the team's recent games: “We were a little lucky to win 2-1 against Putri Meta. After that we refocused in training, worked on our communication and tried to be more clinical. Hopefully we can keep developing as the season goes on.”

In the other match played the same day, the TFA U15 team continued its positive run with a 4-1 comeback win over Persida Putri Sidoarjo to hold second place. Persida led early through Fania Zihan in the 3rd minute before Nur Hidayati (Yayo) equalised in the 21st. Top scorer Aimarch Yuki (Naya) then put TFA ahead, and Yumina Naziya (Zizi) added two more to seal the win.

Team manager Mashytha Nur Khusniah praised the U15s' effort: “Persida played very well, so our girls had to work hard. Many of our players were born in 2013 and 2014 and are still short of experience. We are very grateful to Hydroplus and the Bakti Olahraga Djarum Foundation for this competition platform. The standard of play, the tidy organisation and the professional referees make the players feel valued. Thank you also to the parents and to the sponsors of our girls, such as Agency and Kawi, for their support.”

The Hydroplus League continues until May across four host cities: Surabaya, Kudus, Bandung and Jakarta. With performances improving and momentum maintained, both TFA teams are targeting a place in the national stage in July. The chances are real, but the tight competition means every match remains a challenge for Tigers Football Academy.