'It's no mission impossible for us to win in Sinapore'

Indonesia was left reeling after its shock 1-3 loss to Singapore in the first leg of the Tiger Cup final at home on Saturday. National team coach Peter Withe tells The Jakarta Post's Moh. N. Kurniawan how the team can turn things around in game two.

It will indeed be a difficult task to win the second match of the finals in Singapore on Jan. 16, but it's not a mission impossible.

During the Tiger Cup tournament, the team was capable of scoring goals, including in our away matches. The players have also realized what went wrong in the home game against Singapore on Saturday, and they want to rectify the situation.

We should remember that up until the final, Indonesia had scored 23 goals and conceded only six.

In the first semifinal match at home, Indonesia also lost 1-2 to Malaysia, but no one can complain about the way we played, as the players gave 100 percent and created many chances, even if we did end up losing.

In the away match, the players continued to create a number of goal scoring chances that reaped four goals and only let in one.

If our players are able to play the same spirited and cohesive way in Singapore as they played against Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur, then the Tiger Cup should come home with us to Jakarta.

The team also ended its goal drought from the two previous games against the Lions by scoring on Saturday.

Singapore is not invincible at home. Although it won 4-3 against Myanmar on the latter's home ground, it lost 1-2 in normal time in Singapore, and it only won in extra time. Even then, Myanmar was down to just eight men.

I believe that Indonesia's players have learned a lot from the first match against Singapore, including discipline, patience and communication among themselves.

When we fell behind 0-1 within the first five minutes, the players started panicking, made rushed challenges and committed mistakes, that included defender Muhammad Mauly Lessy being sent off (for cuffing a Singapore player).

The players know now that they must remain disciplined even when the situation is not going as planned.

For soccer is all about changes from second to second and minute to minute -- and adapting to them in order to win.

Our defensive line also easily lost their position as the two wingbacks, Ortizan Salossa and Lessy, too often moved forward, leaving only two others to deal with four Singapore players.

The central defenders knew the situation, but they didn't communicate with the other players and it cost us the second and third goals.

Those are things that I have to solve with the players. Most important is that the players learn to be a little bit patient in their positions, although I want them to play at a high tempo.

We also faced the disadvantage that four players were out of commission.

Apart from Lessy, another defender Charis Yulianto got a second yellow card, while defender Jack Combo was suffering from malaria. And then Boas Salossa was injured.

With three of our defensive team out of action, I had to make a switch in the defense.

I consider Ortizan can play in that position, although he is also capable of playing in his brother Boas' position.

Most important right now is that I get the players to a level of confidence again, see how they are training, look at different things we can do in training, and make the critical decision about who is ready for the final.

As Singapore will be playing at home and with a two-goal lead, it may be content to sit back and accept a draw.

Of course, we cannot let that happen.

At home, we played an attacking game, and we will do the same once again, going all out for a win. Hopefully, this time our attacks will reach the mark -- and the Tiger Cup will be ours.