Watch Michael Essien chase down opponent on field, [Video inside]

Tough tackling Ghanaian midfielder Michael Essien nearly gave a violent opponent some severe beating after the former Chelsea player was violently targeted by an opponent during a friendly match in Indonesia.

Essien, regarded as a tough tackling midfielder due to his tenacious style of play, was not accorded that fear when playing for his Indonesia side Persib Bandung in their friendly against Bali United.

So the inaction of the opponent Bali’s Yabes Roni brought out the bison-like action from the Ghanaian during Saturday’s night’s game.

Persib Bandung were taking on Bali United and lost the exhibition game 2-1. But the biggest talking point came in the 72nd-minute.

Bali’s Yabes Roni booted the ball at Essien when the whistle had already gone and the former Chelsea player then proceeded to chase his opponent around the pitch.

At the age of 34, Essien wasn’t quite able to catch Roni before eventually being calmed down by his players and the match officials.

It was a reaction you’d expect to see from a young child on the playground, though. What made it even funnier was that Roni ran away from Essien and looked genuinely terrified.

Roni was sent off but Essien’s side eventually fell to a defeat.

Essien joined Persib Bandung in March after a short spell at Panathinaikos came to an end.

But things haven’t been all bad for the midfielder since joining.

He opened his account for the club in midweek during a 7-0 friendly victory over Parsika Kawarang.

Essien is arguably the highest profile player to have played in the Indonesian league since Cameroon World Cup legend Roger Milan and Argentine World Cup winner Mario Kempes.

Watch video of the incident below

Source:Ghanasoccernet