Sho Yamamoto of Persebaya Surabaya filmed the angry fans surrounding the armed vehicles transporting his team out of the stadium after the deadly riot broke out following the soccer match on Oct. 1 in Malang, Indonesia. (Provided by Sho Yamamoto)

Photo/Illutration Sho Yamamoto of Persebaya Surabaya, right, celebrates with his teammates after scoring the winning goal in a match that triggered a deadly riot in Malang, Indonesia, on Oct. 1. (Provided by Persebaya Surabaya)

SURABAYA, Indonesia--Japanese soccer player Sho Yamamoto celebrated in joy when he scored his tie-breaking goal, which would lead to his team’s first victory against rival Arema FC at its home stadium in more than 20 years.

But the victory for Persebaya Surabaya on Oct. 1 triggered an angry riot among fans who swarmed the pitch at Kanjuruhan Stadium in Malang and were met by police.

In the melee and crush after police shot tear gas into the mob, some 131 people were killed.

Yamamoto, 25, told The Asahi Shimbun about his mixed feelings in scoring the winning goal and bearing witness to the senseless carnage. 

He and his teammates were trapped aboard an armed vehicle inside the stadium for nearly two hours as they watched the chaos outside.

“In many ways, it became a goal that I would never forget,” Yamamoto said. 

‘CAN NEVER LOSE TO THEM’

After graduating from high school, Yamamoto went to Europe, playing for several clubs there. 

Since June, he has been a member of Persebaya Surabaya, based in Surabaya, Indonesia’s second largest city.

On Oct. 1, his team traveled to Malang to play Arema FC in Liga 1 play. 

Persebaya Surabaya’s manager and coach had been repeatedly telling his players, “We can never lose to them.”

Yamamoto opened the game on the pitch.

The stadium was packed with 42,000 spectators, all of whom were opposing fans. They booed loudly during the introduction of the visiting team’s lineup.

The first half ended in a 2-2 tie. In the second half, Yamamoto took a pass from the right side and booted the winning goal off his left foot.

The match ended at about 10 p.m., but the players of Persebaya Surabaya had no time to enjoy their 3-2 victory.

They rushed to the locker room just as they were instructed to by the police before the match.

When they arrived there, they heard police shouting, “Evacuate right now!”

They boarded four armed vehicles without even taking a shower.

At 10:10 p.m., the vehicles carrying around 40 people including players and team staff started making their way out of the stadium led by two police cars.

But they stopped after traveling only 20 meters.

They were surrounded by opposing fans. Thousands were watching the match in a public viewing event outside the stadium.

Angry Arema fans set fire to the first police car and flipped it over. They also set fire to a truck trailing the convoy, which was carrying around 20 officers.

Losing the lead car, the convoy was stranded for about two hours in the stadium.

The fans threw rocks on the vehicles and hurled abuse at the Persebaya Surabaya players.

When Yamamoto peered out the window, he found that police and fans were clashing amid swirling clouds of white tear gas. He also saw injured people being carried out.

The convoy finally started making its way after midnight. Police officers were pushing away the fans with shields to clear the way for the vehicles. 

“Anything could have happened if the police didn’t handle the situation so thoroughly,” Yamamoto said.

Yamamoto is happy to have made history on the pitch, but feels embarrassment because his goal triggered the riot. 

“Frankly, it’s difficult to be delighted in such a situation,” he said.

(Rizki Akbar Hasan contributed to this story.)

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