Indonesia, Singapore reach SEA Games semis
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN (JP): Indonesia and Singapore settled for a 1-1 draw to qualify for the semifinals of the Southeast Asian Games soccer competition on Friday.
The result of the Group B top-of-the-table match snuffed out a brave effort from Malaysia, which tamed host Brunei Darussalam 2- 0 in the day's other match held at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Sports Complex.
Indonesia remained on the top of the standings due to a better goal aggregate than Singapore. Both have collected seven points after two wins and a draw each, with one match left to play.
Indonesia needs to beat Brunei in the last preliminary match on Monday to avoid a likely meeting with defending champion Thailand in the cross-over semifinals.
Singapore plays Cambodia in their last group match on Monday.
In Group A, Thailand and Vietnam were tops with seven points. In Sunday's match, Vietnam will face the Philippines while Thailand is to play Myanmar.
Midfielder and captain Bima Sakti scored the lone goal for Indonesia from a 36th minute penalty kick awarded to his team after Singaporean midfielder Tan Kim Leng brought down Rocky Puttiray in the box.
Playing before a crowd of 4,000, most of them Indonesian migrant workers, Bima and company slowed down the pace and resorted to strong defense following the goal.
Singapore pulled level in the dying seconds through striker Indra Sahdan Daud, who volleyed the ball to the far post past Indonesian goalkeeper I Komang Putra in a scrimmage inside the penalty area. Indra survived Indonesian defender Selamet Riyadi's clearance en route to the equalizer.
Indonesia's coach Bernhard Schumm admitted afterward that he instructed his players to save their energy and rely on counterattacks after Bima's goal.
"Everything worked so well until one super shot from the Singaporean," the German said. He added Selamet should have put constant pressure on Indra.
"It was Selamet's mistake, but it doesn't matter to me a lot. He's a young player and playing in his first international tournament," Schumm said of the defender.
Schumm said Indonesia would be well prepared to meet either Singapore, Thailand or Vietnam in the final.
"I can't make a choice. I think Thailand has the choice. But I don't care if it is Thailand or Vietnam. It'll be the same for us. The four teams can beat each other in the semifinals because they play with different strategies and style," he said.
Schumm said he would field two ace strikers in the semifinal. (ivy)