RI cautious about Saudi game

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

After a 3-0 win over Yemen in its Group C qualifying soccer matches for the 2004 Asian Cup, the Indonesian team cautioned that the next game against host Saudi Arabia would be its true test.

Team manager Andi Darussalam said that Indonesia looked set for a difficult game against Saudi Arabia on Friday.

"We all know Saudi Arabia is a strong team and a favorite to win the group. But we will do our best," Andi said as quoted by Antara on Thursday.

Saudi Arabia, which has already collected 13 goals in its defeat of Yemen and Bhutan, currently leads the group. It now has six points, equal to Indonesia, but the Saudis have a formidable goal margin advantage.

Indonesia only scored two goals in its 2-0 win over lightweights Bhutan in the opening match.

In Wednesday's match in Jeddah, which finished after midnight Jakarta time, Uston Nawawi scored two goals in the 51st and 90th minute while Zaenal Arif contributed the other in the 62nd minute.

Andi said that although Yemen provided some difficulties for the Indonesians in the first half, he was generally satisfied with the team's performance,

"After the first half, we tried to fix it. We gave input to the players and apparently they took the coach's instructions well," he said.