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