Indonesia labors to defeat Cambodian 1-0 in SEAG opener

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's soccer team kicked off to a good start after defeating Cambodia 1-0 in the preliminary Group B match at the 20th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Brunei Darussalam on Saturday.

Andrian Mardiansyah, who replaced team captain and midfielder Bima Sakti in the first minute of the second half, kicked the only goal in the 93th minute of injury time from about 20 meters to the right of the net.

The single goal ended his team's frustration for failing to capitalize on opportunities to earn more than one goal in their first match. Cambodia was also beaten by Indonesia's pre-Olympics soccer team in two friendly matches held in April.

Indonesia will face Malaysia on Aug. 2, Singapore on Aug. 6 and host Brunei Darussalam on Aug. 9.

During the first half of the match, which was directly broadcast from Bandar Seri Begawan by state-run TVRI and private television ANteve, the national squad appeared ill-at-ease, after failing to break through the tight Cambodian defense.

Winger Aji Santoso, who took control after Bima Sakti was taken off, and winger Agung Setyabudi were unable to assist strikers Widodo C. Putro and Bambang Pamungkas in the offense.

Cambodia's top strikers Hok Sochetera and Chan Arun Reath however, were able to break through the Indonesian defense, but were unable to perform well in front of the net.

In the second half, Indonesia's team coach Bernhard Schumm put on third striker Rocky M.E. Puttiray to assist Widodo and Bambang. He also replaced Agung with Anang Ma'ruf.

Rocky, who replaced midfielder Uston Nawawi, failed to capitalize on several opportunities to kick goals.

Coach of the Tangerang's Persikota club, Sutan Harhara, told ANteve after the match that the Indonesian players had not played to the best of their abilities.

"Most of them played far below their capacity. Maybe they were under pressure to win the first match ... and they felt overconfident of easily beating Cambodia, which is considered a weak team."

He also said that Schumm's strategy to put on the third striker in the second half did not improve the play.

"I saw the team officials panicking because they wanted to win the first game, so they fielded Rocky. But the play did not improve. The strikers had many chances for goals, but they failed, maybe because they were not skillful enough or were unlucky," Sutan said.

In the other Group A match, Singapore beat Malaysia 2-1. (ivy)