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Indonesia revels in regional soccer glory after 32-year wait
The SEA Games victory could be a good omen for the nation’s soccer fans, who have had to wallow in disappointment after FIFA stripped Indonesia of its right to host the U-20 World Cup last month.
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Indonesia's Marselino Ferdinan (center) shoots past Thailand's Chayapipat Supunpasuch (left) during the men's final soccer match at the 32nd SEA Games in Phnom Penh, on May 16. Indonesia's youth team took home the gold after besting Thailand 5-2. (AFP/Mohd Rasfan)
T
he Indonesian men’s youth soccer team took home the gold medal in a dramatic SEA Games final match in Cambodia, on Tuesday, besting Thailand to end a 32-year wait to snag the region’s top prize.
The victory at Phnom Penh’s Olympic Stadium is expected to be a good omen for the nation’s soccer fans, who have had to wallow in disappointment after their national team was forced to abort a one-time opportunity to play in the FIFA U-20 World Cup last month.
The Young Garudas beat Thailand 5-2 in a thrilling 120- minute game that saw referee Qasim Matar Ali Al Hatmi dish out 16 yellow cards and seven red cards to players and members of the coaching staff, from both sides.
Indonesia led the game in the 21st minute when striker Ramadhan Sananta headed a long throw by Alfeandra Dewangga at close range, escaping the reach of Thai goalkeeper Soponwit Rakyart.
Ramadhan doubled Indonesia’s lead in the last additional minute before half-time with a meticulous lob into an empty goal, but Thailand managed to shorten the gap through Anan Yodsangwal's goal in the 65th minute.
Tensions spiked in the seventh minute of extra time in the second half, when Indonesia’s coach and players rejoiced and celebrated at the blow of Qasim’s whistle, thinking that the game was finally over.
It turned out that the referee gave Thailand a freekick, which substituted Yotsakorn Burapha, then quickly took to score an equalizer past goalkeeper Ernando Ari Sutaryadi.
