Indonesia has been AFF Cup finalists three times since the championship was established in 1996, but has never won the trophy.

Indonesia started the game with a flurry of attacks, squandering several opportunities to hit the Philippine net.

Striker Christian Gerard Alfaro Gonzales tried his luck in the 10th and 20th minutes, but Philippine goalkeeper Neil Leonard Dula Etheridge was up to the challenges.

Midfielder Oktovianus Maniani also missed his chance of getting Indonesia on the board in the 33rd minute, as did defender Muhammad Ridwan in the 37th minute.

Gonzales’ eagerness to score bore fruit in the 42nd minute when the Uruguayan-born forward’s long
distance strike hit the back of the Philippine net, sending the 85,000 home fans — among them President Susilo Bamban Yudhoyono — into a frenzy.

With three goals so far in the championship, Gonzales leads all scorers.

Indonesia maintained the score until the end of the first half.

The second half began ominously for the home team, with the Philippines pressing the Indonesian defense.

Despite the errors and the solid Philippine defense, Indonesia managed to hold on to the 1-0 victory.
Indonesia head coach Alfred Riedl said the match was his team’s most difficult.

“[The game] definitely wasn’t for those with weak nerves. [The Philippines] got good free kicks, corner kicks and throw-ins,” Riedl said at a post-match press conference.

Riedl admitted that his squad made some poor judgments because they became too nervous in the second half.

Captain Firman Utina said the players couldn’t communicate well because of the din from the fans.
In the final, which will be played in two legs, the first on Dec. 26, Indonesia will meet Malaysia, which fought its way into the final after shocking defending champions Vietnam with a 2-0 aggregate win in their semifinal. Malaysia took a 2-0 lead in the first leg and drew goalless in the second leg.

Riedl said the final would be tough for both teams. “Our players were nervous in the second half of today’s match, but we can’t allow that to happen against Malaysia,” he said.

Riedl added that the team was bent on winning the final. “We will start preparing tonight, before heading to Malaysia on Dec. 24.”

Indonesia first appeared in the AFF Cup final in 2000, where they lost 4-1 to hosts Thailand. In 2002, Indonesia reappeared in the final but were again defeated by Thailand, this time falling 4-2 in extra time. Indonesia was last in the final in 2004, only to fall to Singapore in two legs, losing 3-1 and 2-1.

Malaysia were last in the final in the inaugural championships, where they were defeated 1-0 by Thailand.

Singapore and Thailand have each won the trophy three times, while Vietnam won for the first time in 2008.

Malaysia head coach K. Rajagobal has set his sights on lifting the Cup for the first time in the country’s history.

“Looking at the situation now I’m very optimistic,” Rajagobal was quoted as saying by the event’s official website, www.affsuzukicup.com. “When we won against Vietnam at home I was very confident.”

He said he was confident his side had improved throughout the competition and that the Indonesians would not have matters their own way this time around.

“If we have the opportunity to play Indonesia it’s going to be a different ball game,” he said. “This is the year for Malaysia to surprise. We are in the final and I think we will go all the way.”

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