Indonesian winning streak in World Cup group
Indonesian winning streak in World Cup group
MALE (Agencies): Indonesia maintained its 100 percent record
and its position at the top of the 2002 World Cup Asia Zone Group
Nine qualifying tournament with a 2-0 victory over host the
Maldives on Sunday. The victory also wiped out Indonesia's worry after the
Maldives managed to hold China 1-0 at home on April 28.
Indonesia is three points clear of the Chinese, having played
one game more, and goals from former FC Lucerne forward Kurniawan
Dwi Yulianto, after just 10 minutes, and Ismed Sofyan five
minutes after the interval gave Benny Dolo's side its fourth win
of the competition.
In Phnom Penh, China returned to form Sunday soundly beating
Cambodia 4-0 to retain its 100 percent record and set up a
showdown with Indonesia.
China's first goal came after just five minutes through a
header by Li Jinyu while Qu Bo added a second two minutes before
the halftime break. A goal by Ma Mingyu in the 58th was followed
five minutes by a second by Li.
China took control of the game from the start, constantly
pressuring Cambodia's defense which repeatedly crumbled.
"Everybody likes to be the winner," said China's Yugoslav
coach Bora Milutinovic after the game.
He said Cambodia, languishing at the bottom of the group nine
table, lacked experience. "If you know where you are, you need to
work to be better and keep patient."
Cambodia's German coach Joachim Fickert praised the Chinese
effort.
"When a team like ours goes against China, according to the
quality of China you can only take pride in not making mistakes,"
he said.
"Today we saw that Cambodia's footballers have improved ... we
still have years of hard work ahead."
Sunday's fixture was played before a capacity crowd of more
than 10,000 rowdy Cambodian fans who at one point began pelting
the field with plastic water bottles to show their displeasure
over the awarding of a corner kick to China.
Both teams received one yellow card each during the match.
China and Indonesia will meet on May 13 and again on May 27 to
decide which country goes through to Asia's final qualifying
round, which kicks off in August.