Persebaya Surabaya's dramatic victory over Port FC in the final match of Group B of the 2026 President's Cup came at a high price. The Green Force's main striker, Alex Martins, is confirmed to miss the crucial semifinal match against Arema FC after suffering a shoulder dislocation during the match held at Gelora Bung Tomo Stadium.
The incident occurred near the end of the match, specifically in the 90+1 minute. The Brazilian forward fell with his shoulder bearing his body weight after a duel with an opposing player. Persebaya's medical team attempted to perform a repositioning procedure directly on the pitch, but due to the player's large muscle mass, the treatment had to be transferred to Mayapada Hospital to be performed under anesthesia.
Persebaya's Chief Medical Officer, dr. Pratama Wicaksana Wijaya, Sp.KO, explained that Alex's condition continues to be intensively monitored. The striker's recovery process involves a multidisciplinary team consisting of specialists in orthopedics, physical medicine and rehabilitation, as well as sports medicine. A follow-up MRI scan was also performed to evaluate the condition of the tissues around his shoulder joint, which has now returned to its normal position.
Despite losing a vital pillar in the attacking line, Persebaya coach Bernardo Tavares emphasized his team's readiness. The Portuguese tactician stated that collective strength is the main key for the Green Force squad. He is confident that other players will be ready to step up and make a maximum contribution to fill the void left by Alex Martins in the upcoming semifinal match.
Before being forced off due to injury, Alex Martins put in an impressive performance as a game-changer since coming on at the start of the second half. He successfully scored the winning goal in the 47th minute, putting Persebaya 2-1 ahead of Port FC, and securing their status as Group B winners with a perfect record from three matches.
