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Indonesia keeps hopes high after 2-1 win over Vietnam
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High spirits: Indonesian soccer team captain Boaz Solossa encourages his teammates during the first leg of the semifinals in the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) Suzuki Cup in Bogor, West Java, on Saturday evening. The Red and White team finally secured a 2-1 victory over their guest, with Boaz scoring the winner from a penalty kick in the second half. (Antara/Wahyu Putro A)
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fter a bumpy start, Indonesia achieved another positive result in the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) Suzuki Cup after securing a 2-1 victory over Vietnam on Saturday evening in the first leg of the semifinals.
Playing as the home team at Pakansari Stadium in Bogor, West Java, Indonesia clinched the lead through a header from defender Hansamu Yama Pranata in the 7th minute of the game.
Vietnam, which played under moral pressure in a stadium full of Indonesian supporters, however, only needed 10 minutes to equalize when Nguyen Van Quyet converted a penalty into a goal after striker Le Cong Vinh had fallen in the box due to a challenge from defender Beny Wahyudi.
It was Indonesian captain Boaz Solossa who sealed the host’s victory through penalty, after Australian referee Jarred Gillett awarded it five minutes into the second half.
The victory is an important moral boost for the “Red and White” team before visiting Hanoi as the away team in the second leg on Wednesday.
Indonesia, which many international pundits saw as an underdog in the AFF Suzuki Cup, started the 11th edition of the biennial competition with some difficulties.
It once sat at the bottom of Group A in the group stage after being crushed by Thailand with 2-4 and achieving only a 2-2 draw against host the Philippines. Indonesia only paved its way to the semifinals after defeating Singapore 2-1 in the final game of the group stage.
Indonesia has never won the AFF Cup — a tournament participated in by Southeast Asian nations — having finished runner-up in 2000, 2002, 2004 and 2010. Vietnam won the tournament in 2008.
In the other semifinal match, Thailand will take on Myanmar in the first leg at Yangon on Sunday. The return leg will be played in Bangkok on Thursday. (hwa)
