RI's U-19 team extends downfall

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia extended its downfall in the prequalifying round of the Asian U-19 Soccer Championships after suffering a 0-5 humiliating defeat in its last match against host China at Deyang City in Sichuan province on Wednesday.

With the result, China, which won all three games in the round robin matches to top the standings with nine points, qualifies for the finals of championship in Teheran in November.

Indonesia was in bottom position without any points after three defeats. Myanmar was second with six points after winning two games and losing one, and Chinese Taipei was next with three points from winning one game and losing two.

Assistant to U-19 team coach Warta Kusuma was quoted by Antara as saying that host China had better quality than Indonesia. He said China had prepared its junior team two years ago while Indonesia only had two weeks of preparation.

Indonesia lost 1-3 to Chinese Taipei in the first game last Saturday and bowed out to Myanmar 0-3 in the second game on Monday. (ivy)