RI beats Bhutan 2-0 in Asia qualification

RI beats Bhutan 2-0 in Asia qualification

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Indonesia only managed to clinch a 2-0 win over struggling
Bhutan in the opening Group C match qualifier for the Asian Cup
at the Abdullah Al-Faisal stadium, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, early on
Tuesday, Antara reported.

Kurniawan Dwi Yulianto put Indonesia in front with his goal in
the 26th minute before Zainal Arif got the second in the 48th
minute.

The goal leaves Indonesia in second place behind Saudi Arabia.

Three-time Asian Cup champion and five-times finalist, Saudi
Arabia, tops the standings after destroying Yemen 7-0 in their
opening match.

Indonesian manager Andi Darussalam Tabussala said the result
was below par as Indonesia was rated much higher than Bhutan. The
team had hoped to score as many goals as possible because goal
difference could count in determining who qualifies.

He rued a rash of missed goal opportunities due to poor
finishing.

"Speaking about quality, Bhutan is below Indonesia. We
controlled the match, but we failed to harvest the goals," Andi
said as quoted by Antara.

In its last 13 international matches, Bhutan has conceded 65
goals -- 20 of these during its recent match against Kuwait.

Looking forward to the next matches, Andi said that the most
crucial would be with Yemen, which is considered to have an equal
chance with Indonesia of taking second place behind favorite
Saudi Arabia.

Yemeni coach Ahmed Kassem admitted that Saudi Arabia was most
likely to take first place in the group, leaving Indonesia and
Yemen to fight it out for the second ticket to the finals of the
Asian Cup in China next year.

"The first ticket is certainly in Saudi Arabia's hands but we
will try our best to take second position," said Kassem as quoted
on the official website of the Asian Football Confederation
(AFC).

Indonesia is scheduled to face Yemen on Wednesday.