Indonesia boosts its chance for Asian Cup final

JAKARTA (JP): The national soccer team is likely to represent Southeast Asia in the Asian Cup final in Lebanon next year after it drubbed Hong Kong 3-1 in the Group 7 match of the cup's prequalifying round at Senayan Stadium on Sunday.

In front of 30,000 spectators, Indonesian midfielder Anang Ma'ruf opened the way to victory with a goal in the sixth minute of the first half off a pass from midfielder Aji Santoso.

Hong Kong increased the pressure on the Indonesian side, but it failed to score before the close of the first half.

In the second half, Indonesian coach Nandar Iskandar replaced veteran striker Widodo C. Putro with junior Bambang Pamungkas.

It proved an effective move as Bambang assisted fellow striker Rocky M. E. Puttiray to score in the 47th minute and put the winning goal in the net in the 71st minute.

Hong Kong benefited by a gap in the Indonesian defense for its lone goal. Striker Au Wai-lun earned his team's lone goal in the 60th minute to save face.

Indonesia tied 1-1 with Hong Kong in its first game at Mongkok Stadium last month.

Hong Kong's coach Ian James Braid said he was disappointed by the result.

"I'm very disappointed. We had a lot of chances. We had five clear chances and the score is also disappointing."

He believed his team kept a solid defense but it was not strong enough to prevent Rocky and Bambang from scoring.

"We focused on Indonesia's dangerous player, Rocky, but his moves were exceptional and he has very high skills. Bambang is also good," he said.

Nandar said the Hong Kong team was taken by surprise when Indonesia used the same strategy as its opponent.

"Hong Kong played very defensively and we also played the same way. We were better than our opponent. Our midfielders were too quick in passing the ball to our strikers and they (Hong Kong) were not prepared."

He praised Rocky and Bambang.

"We played much better than Hong Kong and we had the same opportunities to make goals. Hong Kong has good players but our strikers Rocky and Bambang took possession of the ball and scored," he said.

Indonesia will paly Cambodia in the last Group 7 match on Nov. 21 at Senayan Stadium. (ivy)

Standings (games, wins, draws, losses, points, average points)

Indonesia (3, 2, 1, 0, 9-3, 7); Hong Kong (4, 2, 1, 1, 7-5, 7); Cambodia (3, -, -, 3, 2-10, 3)