National team wins domestic game

National team wins domestic game

BANDUNG, West Java (JP): Veterans Jaya Hartono and Robby
Darwis showed some of their old soccer mastery when they scored a
goal each that earned the national team (PSSI) a 2-0 warm-up win
over Mastrans Bandung Raya here yesterday.

Both Jaya and Robby, two of the country's most capped players
in Danurwindo's rooster for the Asia Championships qualifying
round early next month, marked the friendly with brilliant
touches as their juniors ran out of steam.

After a lackluster spell, Jaya scored the opening goal in the
30th minute. It took the national team 25 minutes to extend the
lead when Robby latched on a free kick from Ansyari Lubis.

The trio of coaches of Danurwindo, Andi Teguh Nandar Iskandar
chose the Bandung side to test their defense. They also carried
out a number of trials in the up-front line by making six
substitutions.

"So far so good. We got off to a disastrous start, but we
managed to team up solidly in the rest of the match," Danurwindo
said.

The West Javanese relied on Montenegrin Dejan Glusevic to set
up sporadic pressures in response to the national squad's raids,
only to find stubborn clearances from Robby, Yeyen Tumena and
Nuralim.

"It is the team's best performance so far. They have improved
their teamwork," Andi said of his players.

Andi's 18 men are grouped with Malaysia and India in round-
robin matches played in Kuala Lumpur from March 2 to March 5. The
winner will qualify for the Asian Championships Finals in Dubai
to be held either in October or November.

Reelected chairman of the Indonesian Football Association,
Azwar Anas, congratulated the national players for this
encouraging tune-up for the Asian outing. "They looked a little
bit tired due to the fasting month," he said.

The national team is scheduled to fly to Thailand tonight for
two friendlies against Bangkok Bank FC. (17/amd)