Indonesia's soccer dreams for Sydney 2000 in tatters

Indonesia's soccer dreams for Sydney 2000 in tatters

JAKARTA (JP): South Korean soundly defeated Indonesia 7-0 in
the Asian Zone Group Eight prequalifying tournament for the 2000
Olympic Games on Saturday at Olympic Stadium, Seoul, shattering
Indonesia's Sydney dreams.

With three straight victories, South Korea cruises to the
second round, where nine first round winners will be divided into
three groups. Group winners qualify for the Olympics.

The national soccer team, made up of under 23-year-olds,
failed to anticipate the quick moving South Koreans and could not
develop its defense strategy, coach Bernhard Schumm said.

He acknowledged that Indonesia's team was inadequately
prepared.

"The South Korean squad is superior in every line, including
in its speed and physical endurance, Schumm told Antara on
Saturday.

South Korea led the first half 4-0 with a hat-trick from ace
forward Lee Dong-gook in the 1st, 35th and 40th minute. Team
member Park Jin-sub kicked a goal in the 23rd minute.

In the second half, Indonesia goalie Sahari Gultom of PSMS
Medan failed to secure his posts a from South Korean raid that
produced another three goals from An Hyo-yeon (in the 69th minute
and 76th minute) and Lee Kwan-woo (in the 72nd minute).

All Indonesian Soccer Federation (PSSI) spokesman Tondo
Widodo, who was present at the match, said Sahari was under
sustained pressure during the whole game.

"Sahari played quite well, but it was difficult for him to
defend his posts from the continuous attack," he told the news
agency.

Strikers Bambang Pamungkas from Persikas in Semarang, Central
Java, and Gendut Doni from Diklat Salatiga were powerless to
attack, as they were tightly guarded by their opposites.

In a desperate bid to improve the team's performance, Schumm,
who was former assistant coach to German champion Bayern
Muenchen, replaced Gendut Doni with Nova Zainal of Persikota
Tangerang in the second half but the move did not benefit
Indonesia.

South Korean coach Wo Chang-hoo said after the match the
Indonesian team was not as strong as a video recording of the
team playing warm up matches in Malaysia and Hong Kong last month
suggested.

He said his team did not face any difficulties defeating
Indonesia.

South Korea was one of the Asian qualifiers in the 1998 World
Cup in France.

In the opening match on Tuesday, South Korean beat Sri Lanka
5-0, while Indonesia achieved a 2-1 victory over Taiwan. In the
second match on Thursday, South Korea comprehensively defeated
Taiwan 7-0 and Indonesia overwhelmed Sri Lanka 2-1.

Earlier on Saturday, Taiwan had its first Group 8 win when it
beat Sri Lanka 4-1. With the result Taiwan remains in third
place, while Sri Lanka was at the bottom of the Group 8 list.

Taiwan's scorers on Saturday included Hou Sheng-chung (6th
minute), Tsai Hui-kai (8th minute), Lin Chien-kuang (23rd minute)
and Lin Chia-sheng (24th minute). Sri Lanka benefited from an
error executed by Cheng Yung-jen, who scored in the 20th minute a
goal for his opponents. (ivy)