Indonesia and Thailand set up final showdown<\/p>\n
By Budiman Moerdijat and Emmy Fitri<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia edged out Singapore 2-1 yesterday to
\nadvance to the soccer final tomorrow against defending champion
\nThailand.<\/p>\n
Jubilant coach Henk Wullems was confident his team could
\ndefeat Thailand. \"Indonesia is the best team in the tournament,\"
\nthe Dutchman boasted. \"If we play like we did tonight I'm sure we
\ncan win.\"<\/p>\n
Indonesia squandered nearly a dozen goalmouth opportunities in
\na game played in front of a partisan crowd of 95,000.<\/p>\n
Indonesia went ahead from a brilliant free kick by midfielder
\nBima Sakti in the 11th minute, after forward Kurniawan Dwi
\nYulianto was brought down on the edge of the box.<\/p>\n
The goal marked a triumphant return for the number 11 who
\nmissed the previous game due to suspension from a red card he
\npicked up in the game against Malaysia.<\/p>\n
After the goal Indonesia seemed content to soak up the
\npressure. For the remainder of the half it was Singapore who
\npressed forward in search of an equalizer.<\/p>\n
Their build-up was good, pumping high balls into the penalty
\narea. But the final delivery was poor leaving forwards Fandi
\nAhmad and Zulkarnaen Zainal without real scoring chance.<\/p>\n
In the second half the Indonesians were more positive, making
\ndarting runs down both wings.<\/p>\n
Midfielders Ansyari Lubis, Bima Sakti and captain Fachri
\nHusaini dominated the center of the pitch foiling any Singapore
\nmomentum in attack.<\/p>\n
In the 54th minute, Fachri swept past three defenders into the
\nSingapore penalty box and unleashed a rocket into the top right
\nhand corner of the goal.<\/p>\n
Four minutes later Singapore took advantage of a lapse in
\nconcentration by the Indonesians as right back Hairi lobbed a
\nperfect cross for captain Fandi Ahmad to head in.<\/p>\n
The goal kicked the Indonesian side back into life. It then
\nlaunched a slew of attacks. All failed as bad finishing or
\nbrilliant goalkeeping from Rezal Hassan denied the host side more
\ngoals.<\/p>\n
In the 78th minute Goalkeeper Kurnia Sandy aggravated an old
\ninjury in his right leg and had to be replaced by Listiyanto
\nRahardjo. The seriousness of Kurnia's injury is unknown.<\/p>\n
Singapore coach Barry Whitbread said Indonesia was the better
\nside. \"Indonesia deserved to win, they played a superb game.\"<\/p>\n
Vietnam lost 1-2 earlier yesterday to gold medal favorite
\nThailand.<\/p>\n
Security was tight for yesterday's game with over 2,000
\nsecurity personnel assigned to guard the Senayan Stadium.<\/p>\n
Chief Sgt. Sunarko of the National Police said more than 20
\npeople were detained before the match for carrying sharp objects
\nor firecrackers. Scalpers were also taken to police headquarters.<\/p>\n
Result: Indonesia 2 (Bima Sakti 11, Fachri Husaini 54), Singapore
\n1 (Fandi Ahmad 58)<\/p>\n
Indonesia: Kurnia Sandy\/Listiyanto Rahardjo, Sugiantoro,
\nNuralim, Chairil Anwar, Anang Makruf, Aji Santoso\/Herman Z.
\nPulalo, Ansyari Lubis, Fachri Husaini, Bima Sakti, Widodo C.
\nPutro, Kurniawan Dwi Yulianto.<\/p>\n
Singapore: Rezal Hassan, Mohamad Hairi Su'ap\/Steven Tan Teng
\nChuan, Aide Iskandar Sahak, Subramani Shunmugan, Ling Hong Tai,
\nZulkarnaen Zainal\/Ahmad Latiff Khamaruddin, Mohamad Nazri Nasir,
\nAbdul Kadir Yahaya, Fandi Ahmad\/Indra Sahdan Daud, Selvaraj
\nVengasadalam, Rudy Khairom Daiman.<\/p>",
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