'It's no mission impossible for us to win in Sinapore'<\/p>\n
Indonesia was left reeling after its shock 1-3 loss to Singapore
\nin the first leg of the Tiger Cup final at home on Saturday.
\nNational team coach Peter Withe tells The Jakarta Post's Moh. N.
\nKurniawan how the team can turn things around in game two.<\/p>\n
It will indeed be a difficult task to win the second match of
\nthe finals in Singapore on Jan. 16, but it's not a mission
\nimpossible.<\/p>\n
During the Tiger Cup tournament, the team was capable of
\nscoring goals, including in our away matches. The players have
\nalso realized what went wrong in the home game against Singapore
\non Saturday, and they want to rectify the situation.<\/p>\n
We should remember that up until the final, Indonesia had
\nscored 23 goals and conceded only six.<\/p>\n
In the first semifinal match at home, Indonesia also lost 1-2
\nto Malaysia, but no one can complain about the way we played, as
\nthe players gave 100 percent and created many chances, even if we
\ndid end up losing.<\/p>\n
In the away match, the players continued to create a number of
\ngoal scoring chances that reaped four goals and only let in one.<\/p>\n
If our players are able to play the same spirited and cohesive
\nway in Singapore as they played against Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur,
\nthen the Tiger Cup should come home with us to Jakarta.<\/p>\n
The team also ended its goal drought from the two previous
\ngames against the Lions by scoring on Saturday.<\/p>\n
Singapore is not invincible at home. Although it won 4-3
\nagainst Myanmar on the latter's home ground, it lost 1-2 in
\nnormal time in Singapore, and it only won in extra time. Even
\nthen, Myanmar was down to just eight men.<\/p>\n
I believe that Indonesia's players have learned a lot from the
\nfirst match against Singapore, including discipline, patience and
\ncommunication among themselves.<\/p>\n
When we fell behind 0-1 within the first five minutes, the
\nplayers started panicking, made rushed challenges and committed
\nmistakes, that included defender Muhammad Mauly Lessy being sent
\noff (for cuffing a Singapore player).<\/p>\n
The players know now that they must remain disciplined even
\nwhen the situation is not going as planned.<\/p>\n
For soccer is all about changes from second to second and
\nminute to minute -- and adapting to them in order to win.<\/p>\n
Our defensive line also easily lost their position as the two
\nwingbacks, Ortizan Salossa and Lessy, too often moved forward,
\nleaving only two others to deal with four Singapore players.<\/p>\n
The central defenders knew the situation, but they didn't
\ncommunicate with the other players and it cost us the second and
\nthird goals.<\/p>\n
Those are things that I have to solve with the players. Most
\nimportant is that the players learn to be a little bit patient in
\ntheir positions, although I want them to play at a high tempo.<\/p>\n
We also faced the disadvantage that four players were out of
\ncommission.<\/p>\n
Apart from Lessy, another defender Charis Yulianto got a
\nsecond yellow card, while defender Jack Combo was suffering from
\nmalaria. And then Boas Salossa was injured.<\/p>\n
With three of our defensive team out of action, I had to make
\na switch in the defense.<\/p>\n
I consider Ortizan can play in that position, although he is
\nalso capable of playing in his brother Boas' position.<\/p>\n
Most important right now is that I get the players to a level
\nof confidence again, see how they are training, look at different
\nthings we can do in training, and make the critical decision
\nabout who is ready for the final.<\/p>\n
As Singapore will be playing at home and with a two-goal lead,
\nit may be content to sit back and accept a draw.<\/p>\n
Of course, we cannot let that happen.<\/p>\n
At home, we played an attacking game, and we will do the same
\nonce again, going all out for a win. Hopefully, this time our
\nattacks will reach the mark -- and the Tiger Cup will be ours.<\/p>",
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