RI readies for do-or-die game against Vietnam
RI readies for do-or-die game against Vietnam
Musthofid, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Indonesia is readying itself for a do-or-die match against
Vietnam on Saturday night at Bung Karno Stadium in Group A of the
Tiger Cup.
Entering Saturday's fixtures, which also includes a game
between bottom-of-the-group Cambodia and the Philippines,
Indonesia trails Vietnam by two points.
Ivan Kolev's side is in third place with four points, while
Vietnam has six points after two matches. Myanmar, which will not
be in action on Saturday, tops the group with seven points from
three matches.
With Cambodia and the Philippines already out of contention,
Myanmar, Vietnam and Indonesia are left to fight it out for the
two semifinal spots.
Indonesia must defeat Vietnam. A draw will put it in danger of
elimination because its inferior goal margin to Myanmar and
Vietnam.
A loss will end not only the team's run in the tournament but
could also end Kolev's association with the team, as the
Bulgarian himself said.
"We are aware Vietnam is a good match. But we are determined
to win the game to stand a good chance of going to the
semifinals.
"If we fail in the Tiger Cup I'm ready to quit," he said
during a press conference here on Friday.
However, Kolev, who has a one-year contract with the Soccer
Association of Indonesia (PSSI) and has been with the team for
four months, said responsibility for any failure in the
tournament would have to be shared by him and the players.
During the press conference, Kolev hinted at a change in
strategy against Vietnam, but he refused to elaborate.
He would only say that he was not going to include Elie Aiboy
in the starting lineup, which means that Budi Sudarsono is likely
to get the nod at midfield.
And Gendut Doni, who has come off the bench in the earlier
matches, may get the start against Vietnam.
The 23-year-old Elie has been out of form in his appearances
in the Myanmar and Cambodian matches.
Also recognizing the importance of the match, particularly for
Indonesia, Vietnam's coach Henrique Calisto said he had told his
players to go on the offensive from the start.
In the other game on Saturday, both Cambodia and the
Philippines will be looking to secure their first points after
suffering drubbings in their previous matches.
Meanwhile, in Group B action in Singapore on Friday, a never-
say-die Malaysian side stunned tournament favorite and defending
champion Thailand 3-1 to book a semifinal berth, Agence France-
Presse reported.
In the upset of the tournament, the Allan Harris coached side
came from 1-0 down to outplay and outscore Thailand in a match of
vicious tackling in which seven yellow cards were handed out.
Malaysia played their way into the final four by sticking
firmly to their tactical script of a zonal game, and exploiting
Thailand's defensive weaknesses.
Thailand looked to be on their way to the semifinals with an
opening goal in the 23rd minute when Terdsak Chaiman lofted the
ball over the wall from a free kick and caught Malaysian
goalkeeper Azmin Azram Abdul Aziz moving the wrong way.
Down 1-0, the youthful Malaysians briefly lost their cohesion
and nearly let Thailand in twice more before regrouping and
scoring an equalizer just before the half.
Thai goalkeeper Kittisak Rawangpa failed to cleanly hold a
free kick and the ever present Akmal Rizal Ahmad Rakhli was on
the spot to put the loose ball into the back of the net.
Malaysia was on a roll in the second half, and took the lead
midway through the spell when captain Tengku Hazman Raja Hassan
scored.
With nine minutes remaining Indra Putra Mahyuddin, who had
earlier missed a penalty by kicking the ball wide of the goal,
redeemed himself by breaching the Thai defense to make the score
3-1.
Thailand were then down to 10 men after Sakda Joemdee was sent
off after receiving his second yellow card.
Narongchai Vachihraban, Terdsak Chaiman and Peeratat
Phouruandee also received yellow cards for Thailand, as did Natha
Kumar Kalliappan and Subri Sulong for Malaysia.