RI looking for first win against Sri Lanka
RI looking for first win against Sri Lanka
Eva C. Komandjaja, Jakarta
The Indonesian soccer team can't afford to slip up in its 2006
World Cup qualifying match against Sri Lanka here on Wednesday if
it wants to keep its hopes alive of making the next stage.
Indonesia is currently bottom of Group 8 after losing in its
previous two matches. The Sri Lankans have also been winless but
they have conceded less goals than the Indonesians.
Turkmenistan, which defeated Indonesia 3-1 and Sri Lanka 2-0,
currently leads the group with six points, equal with second-
placed Saudi Arabia, which chalked a 3-0 and 1-0 win respectively
over Indonesia and Sri Lanka.
Asia's World Cup qualifying tournament consists of 32 teams
split into eight groups of four. The group winners advance to the
final qualifying stage next year.
Indonesia manager Andi Darussalam said Sri Lanka's defensive
play had proved an effective shield against goal scorers.
However, he said the Indonesians could expect a switch in
strategy by Sri Lanka in Wednesday's match at Jakarta's Bung
Karno stadium.
"Sri Lanka might see an opportunity to win this game. That's
why we think they won't be using such a tight defensive line,"
Andi said on Tuesday.
The hosts would be ready for any possible plot employed by
their opponents, he said.
Coach Ivan Kolev, who admitted to having analysed Sri Lanka's
playing style against Saudi Arabia on video, hinted at
Indonesia's determination to attack from the start in a bid to
win the game.
Sri Lanka has arrived with a squad of 18 players but without
captain Duddly Stenwall, who has been suspended after collecting
two yellow cards.
Coach Sampath Perera said his team was confident about the
game and would be content just to win a point.
Sri Lanka opted not to play warm-up games ahead of Wednesday's
match, citing the players' tight schedule.
Indonesia has had one friendly game against India that ended
in a 1-1 draw last week. India has a tougher task on Wednesday,
facing Asian champion Japan.
On paper Indonesia should be able to overcome Sri Lanka, which
is ranked 137th in the world compared to Indonesia's 95.
Wednesday's fixtures:
Iran v Jordan
Qatar v Laos
Uzbekistan v Palestine
Iraq v Chinese Taipei
Oman v Singapore
Japan v India
China v Malaysia
Kuwait v Hong Kong
UAE v Yemen
Thailand v North Korea
Syria v Tajikistan
Bahrain v Kyrgyzstan
South Korea v Vietnam
Lebanon v Maldives
Saudi Arabia v Turkmenistan
Indonesia v Sri Lanka