Argentina runs over Indonesia at world futsal meet
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Favorite Argentina gave a futsal lesson to Indonesia with a 20-1 thrashing on the second day of the world futsal tournament in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Wednesday.
It was Indonesia's second defeat after it was crushed 1-9 by Japan, the 2002 Asian Championship runner-up, in Group B matches on Tuesday.
"We have learned much from this tournament. Argentina and Japan's futsal teams are too strong for Indonesia," Indonesian head coach Aurias Rahanthoknam said in a press release here.
"They have taken part in international tournaments many times, including the World Futsal Cup, while we have come intent on gaining tournament experience.
"Our team is made up mostly of the players recruited from the students' league. Only two former national (soccer) players -- Listiyanto Raharjo and Vennard Hutabarat -- feature in the team," he said.
At the Putera Indoor Stadium in Bukit Jalil, on Wednesday, Indonesia fielded Ahmad Ramdhani, Andrian Asuri, Andri Irawan, Viernes Polnaya and Listiyanto as captain and goalkeeper.
The team trailed 1-8 in the first half with Andri scoring the only goal for Indonesia. The second half saw Argentina plundering Indonesia with 12 goals.
The Argentine team's line-up comprised Leandro Planas, Diego Giustozzi, Esteban Gonzalez, Hernan Garcias and goalkeeper Javier Guisande.
Ahmad Ramdhani was Indonesia's scorer in the team's 1-9 defeat by Japan on Tuesday.
Earlier, in the Group D matches, four-time Asian champion Iran upset England with a 14-1 win. It was the second win by Iran, which defeated Uzbekistan 7-1 on Tuesday.
The matches between Uruguay and Guatemala in Group C and Thailand against Brazil in Group A were still underway until late at night.
Brazil, which along with Argentina is renowned for its domination in world soccer, registered a record goal at the tournament when it scored 30 goals to none over South Africa on Tuesday.
The US$150,000 tournament, which features 12 countries split in four groups, will run until Sunday.
Group A: Brazil, South Africa, Thailand, Group B: Argentina, Japan, Indonesia, Group C: Malaysia, Uruguay, Guatemala, Group D: Iran, England, Uzbekistan.
The tournament proves to be the only internationally sanctioned event in the world's soccer governing body FIFA in Asia.