RI draws 0-0 with Yemen in World Cup Asian zone qualifier

JAKARTA (JP): Some 40,000 fans at the Senayan stadium could not help Indonesia beat Yemen in the World Cup Asian zone qualifier and both teams ended the 90-minute game with a 0-0 draw.

The draw extends Indonesia's lead in the preliminary standing by four points after an 8-0 drubbing of lowly Cambodia on April 6. Yemen came second with one point and Cambodia was third with no points.

Indonesia's best goal scoring chances were in the 10th minute when Rocky Putiray, after collecting a pass from Widodo Putro, connected a long shot into the goalkeeper's net. But the shot hit the post and was easily taken by Yemen's goalkeeper Aref A. Ahmed.

Indonesia continued its attack on the Yemen side throughout the 45-minute first half, but most of the shots were too easy for Aref.

Widodo and Rocky were the most agile Indonesian players and produced another two scoring chances in the 20th and 30th minutes. But again, the Yemen players gave no way for any shot into the net with its solid defense.

Yemen had the opportunity of creating two goals in the 35th and 40th minute of the first half. One of its players kicked a lightning shot some 20 meters to Indonesia's goalkeeper Listiyanto Rahardjo. Listiyanto managed to tip the ball. The other was a scrimmage in front of Indonesia's area. Listiyanto again saved the near-goal by jumping into the air and taking the ball.

In the second half, Indonesian players Ritham Madubun and Ronny Wabia took to the field. Ritham and Ronny livened up the game and Indonesia practically controlled the field with continuous attacks on the Yemen side.

The game became more violent when four Yemeni players became victims of hard kicks by the Indonesian side. They had to be carried off by stretchers and received medical treatment. No one was seriously injured.

Indonesia also had two goal scoring chances through Widodo and Rocky in the 65th and the 70th minute. Widodo made a long shot some 30 meters away from Aref but the Yemeni keeper caught the ball. Rocky had a better advantage and tipped the ball to the left side of the goal post and created a corner kick. Ronny took the corner kick but his shot was far away from the net.

In the 75th minute, Sudirman was given a yellow card by Malaysian referee Subramaniam Selearajen for punching Jamal Al- Khourabi. Two other yellow cards were given to Hani AA Salim and Abdulla Ahmed of Yemen by the referee throughout the 90 minute game.

The remaining 15 minutes were more lackluster as both sides wasted their time kicking the ball uncontrollably.

Yesterday's match was the first meeting for Indonesia and Yemen. The two countries will meet again in June in the second meeting in Sanaa.

Indonesia will host the third leg of the Group 5 qualifying round in Surabaya, East Java against Uzbekistan on June 1. Indonesia will play host Cambodia in Phnom Penh on April 27. (lnt)

Teams

Indonesia: Listiyanto Rahardjo, Aples Tecuari, Sudirman, Nuralim, Agung Setiabudi, Ritham Madubun, Ronny Wabia, Bima Sakti, Ansyari Lubis, Rocky Putiray and Widodo C. Putro.

Yemen: Aref Ahmed, Abdulrachman Abdulla, Salem Saed Ahmed, Jamal Al-Thuraya, Jamal Al-Khourabi, Esam Dariban, Omar Aliriki, Omar Mobarak, Hussein Habari, Mohamed Alazazi and Jeyab Bashafal.

Photo on Page 13