Indonesia downs Cambodia 6-0 in World Cup qualifiers
Indonesia downs Cambodia 6-0 in World Cup qualifiers
JAKARTA (JP): Midfielder Uston Nawawi scored a hat trick to
propel Indonesia to a 6-0 victory over lowly Cambodia in the 2002
World Cup qualifier at Bung Karno stadium on Sunday.
Cambodian defender Soeur Chanveasna headed home a long pass to
score an own goal in the 27th minute after Indonesia missed
several opportunities in the opening minutes.
Uston scored in the 44th, 46th and 70th minutes in front of
some 25,000 local supporters.
In the 71st minute, veteran defender Aples Gideon Tecuari
converted a loose ball after a Cambodian player tried to block a
header from striker Bambang Pamungkas, who came on as a
substitute for rookie Budi Sudarsono in the 49th minute.
Indonesia's top striker Kurniawan Dwi Yulianto made at least
six attempts before succeeding in netting one goal in the 76th
minute, thanks to a pass from Bambang.
Cambodian defender Samel Nasa made an attempt to narrow the
gap but the ball landed in the hands of goalie I Komang Putra
Adnyana.
Indonesia now tops the Group Nine standings with six points
from two matches. Maldives is second with four points from three
matches. Powerhouse China earned three points after overwhelming
minnow Maldives 10-1 in Xian, China, Sunday while Cambodia is in
bottom with a point from three matches.
Cambodian coach Joachim Fickert said his players needed to
recover their self-confidence after the humiliating defeat. The
team also suffered a 6-0 defeat to Maldives in its first match.
"I can't be satisfied with my team's performance. Soccer is
not only about defense but how to construct a play and score.
"I saw that my players were afraid to move forward and attack
before the own goal. They only waited until Indonesian players
made mistakes. They didn't want to start the attack.
"The Indonesian team profited from the fear of our young
players," Fickert told a post-match conference.
He also said that some Indonesian players gave problems to his
squad.
"Our big problem was the two strikers and the No. 15 player
(Yaris Riyadi). Two of our players in the midfield only waited at
the back and the others failed to even try to attack and create a
single goal."
The Cambodian team was mostly comprised of juniors, who are
being prepared for the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Kuala
Lumpur in September.
"We are targeting getting to the semifinals in the Games,"
Fickert said.
Indonesia's coach Benny Dolo said he had tried to field more
youngsters during the match to enable them feel the atmosphere of
playing in an international event.
"If they can't perform well, it's because it is the first time
they have played in an international event. I put more juniors in
the line-up so they could get more experience," he said.
Indonesia will begin its away matches against Cambodia in
Phnom Penh on April 29. It will fly to Male to play Maldives on
May 6 and finish its journey by challenging China in Kunming on
May 13.
Indonesia will host China on May 27.
Winners of the 10 Asian groups will advance to the final
qualifying round. Two or three teams from Asia will qualify for
the World Cup finals in South Korea and Japan. Both South Korea
and Japan automatically qualify as joint-hosts. (ivy)
Standings
P W D L GF GA Pts
Indonesia 2 2 0 0 11 0 6
Maldives 4 1 1 2 8 16 4
China 1 1 0 0 10 1 3
Cambodia 3 0 1 2 1 13 1