Indonesia scrapes past Sri Lanka in 1-0 World Cup qualifier<\/p>\n
Eva C. Komandjaja, Jakarta<\/p>\n
After losing twice previously, Indonesia chalked up its first
\npoints in the 2006 World Cup qualifying campaign with a 1-0 win
\nover Sri Lanka at the Bung Karno Main Stadium here on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
The hosts got their solitary goal in the 30th minute through a
\nheader from striker Ellie Aiboy, who capitalized on a careless
\nclearance by Sri Lanka.<\/p>\n
Although Sri Lanka used the 5-4-1 format as it had against
\nSaudi Arabia, its defense did not prove as impenetrable as
\nexpected.<\/p>\n
Indonesia, which was on the attack from the start as coach
\nIvan Kolev had promised, managed to create a rash of goal
\nchances, forcing goalkeeper Thilakaratne and his defenders to
\nwork hard throughout the game.<\/p>\n
A combination of nervousness on the part of striking duo Ellie
\nand Bambang Pamungkas, and poor tactics, led to Indonesia failing
\nto add to the score sheet.<\/p>\n
Sri Lanka was not without its own chances, however. With Kasun
\nWeerarathna and EB. Channa deployed in midfield, helped by the
\nteam's sole striker, Azmeer Lathif Mohamed, the visitors
\npersistently posed a threat to Indonesia's weak back line.<\/p>\n
Kasun was close to leading his team in front when he managed
\nto run past defender Warsidi Ardi in the first quarter of the
\nfirst half, but goalkeeper Hendro Kartiko snuffed out the danger
\nwith a good reflex in warding off the ball.<\/p>\n
Referee Nesar Ibrahim of Bangladesh handed out four yellow
\ncards, with one each going to Indonesia's midfielder Syamsul
\nBachri, captain Agung Setyobudi and striker Bambang Pamungkas,
\nand Sri Lankan midfielder Kasun Weerarathna.<\/p>\n
Team manager Andi Darussalam said that his players were not
\nused to the strict refereeing standards imposed by the
\nInternational Football Federation (FIFA).<\/p>\n
He said that it should serve as a good lesson for the
\nIndonesian players.<\/p>\n
Despite scoring only one goal, the host team looked relieved,
\nwith Andi saying that the players had done their best.<\/p>\n
He admitted that Indonesian needed to do more in the striking
\ndepartment, and said that action would be taken to fix this
\nbefore the Asian Cup in October.<\/p>\n
Despite the defeat, Sri Lankan team manager Sunil Senaweera
\nsaid that he was satisfied with his players' performance.<\/p>\n
\"I'm really happy with the result as Indonesia is ranked
\nhigher than us. The only goal in this game was created by a
\nsimple mistake made by one of our defenders,\" Senaweera said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/indonesia-scrapes-past-sri-lanka-in-1-0-world-cup-qualifier-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}