Indonesia scrapes past Sri Lanka in 1-0 World Cup qualifier

Eva C. Komandjaja, Jakarta

After losing twice previously, Indonesia chalked up its first points in the 2006 World Cup qualifying campaign with a 1-0 win over Sri Lanka at the Bung Karno Main Stadium here on Wednesday.

The hosts got their solitary goal in the 30th minute through a header from striker Ellie Aiboy, who capitalized on a careless clearance by Sri Lanka.

Although Sri Lanka used the 5-4-1 format as it had against Saudi Arabia, its defense did not prove as impenetrable as expected.

Indonesia, which was on the attack from the start as coach Ivan Kolev had promised, managed to create a rash of goal chances, forcing goalkeeper Thilakaratne and his defenders to work hard throughout the game.

A combination of nervousness on the part of striking duo Ellie and Bambang Pamungkas, and poor tactics, led to Indonesia failing to add to the score sheet.

Sri Lanka was not without its own chances, however. With Kasun Weerarathna and EB. Channa deployed in midfield, helped by the team's sole striker, Azmeer Lathif Mohamed, the visitors persistently posed a threat to Indonesia's weak back line.

Kasun was close to leading his team in front when he managed to run past defender Warsidi Ardi in the first quarter of the first half, but goalkeeper Hendro Kartiko snuffed out the danger with a good reflex in warding off the ball.

Referee Nesar Ibrahim of Bangladesh handed out four yellow cards, with one each going to Indonesia's midfielder Syamsul Bachri, captain Agung Setyobudi and striker Bambang Pamungkas, and Sri Lankan midfielder Kasun Weerarathna.

Team manager Andi Darussalam said that his players were not used to the strict refereeing standards imposed by the International Football Federation (FIFA).

He said that it should serve as a good lesson for the Indonesian players.

Despite scoring only one goal, the host team looked relieved, with Andi saying that the players had done their best.

He admitted that Indonesian needed to do more in the striking department, and said that action would be taken to fix this before the Asian Cup in October.

Despite the defeat, Sri Lankan team manager Sunil Senaweera said that he was satisfied with his players' performance.

"I'm really happy with the result as Indonesia is ranked higher than us. The only goal in this game was created by a simple mistake made by one of our defenders," Senaweera said.