Indonesian hero out for rest of Asian Cup
Indonesian hero out for rest of Asian Cup
ABU DHABI (Agencies): Indonesian goalkeeper Kurnia Sandi is
out for the rest of the Asian Cup having had his nose broken
during the team's Group A opener against Kuwait Wednesday.
The 21-year-old, who was carried off with blood streaming from
his face 12 minutes from the end after being kicked in the face
in a goalmouth melee, will be operated on later this week, team
coach Danurwindo said.
"It is not a major operation but it will be enough to sideline
him for our remaining Group matches," said Danurwindo.
The loss of Kurnia is a bitter blow for Indonesia, who stunned
everyone by coming away with a 2-2 draw against Kuwait - thanks
mainly to some brilliant goalkeeping from Kurnia.
Before the tournament began Indonesia, playing in its first
ever Asian Cup finals, was expected to be the competition's
whipping boys.
Substitute keeper Hendro Kartiko will play in Indonesia's
second group match against South Korea. The match will be shown
live on ANteve at 11 p.m. tonight.
Iraq
Iraq, meanwhile, surprised Iran 2-1 and Saudi Arabia hit six
past 10-man Thailand in Group B matches Thursday.
Thailand had goalkeeper Wacharapong Somcit sent off for a
professional foul in the ninth minute when he brought down
Ibrahim Al Harbi.
Khaled Al Temawi converted the penalty and the Thai team
faded.
Fahad Mahalel stretched the Saudi lead in the 15th minute and
Khaled Al Mowalad made it 3-0 three minutes later. Temawi scored
a second penalty in the 29th minute.
Sami Al Jaber made it 5-0 seven minutes after the break and
Mahalel completed the rout with his second in the 54th minute.
Urged on by some 2,000 supporters chanting 'With our souls and
blood we redeem you Iraq', the Iraqi team produced a good
performance that hardly bore the mark of a side that has played
little football in the past seven years.
The match was settled in the 71st minute when substitute
Khalid Sabbar hit an unstoppable shot from 25-meters that
silenced the 10,000 Iranian supporters at Dubai's al-Maktoom
stadium.
Iran and Iraq fought a war from 1980-1988 in which hundreds of
thousands of people from both sides were killed. Relations are
still tense between the two countries.
But any political tension between the two countries was not
evident on or off the field.
Iraq opened the scoring in the 37th minute when Husam Naji
received a through ball from Laith Shihaib, shielded it well from
an Iranian defender and hammered in a left-foot shot from a tight
angle.
Iran pressed early on in the second half in search of an
equalizer and had a strong appeal for a penalty for handball
turned down.
But the Iraqi defense held steady and looked dangerous on the
break as Sabbar's strike was to prove.
Striker Ali Daei scored a consolation goal for Iran in injury
time, picking himself up to score from the spot after being
brought down in the box.
Group C matches were scheduled to begin yesterday with
favorite Japan playing China and Syria meeting Uzbekistan.