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SEA Games: Indonesian soccer exits after losing 1-0 to Malaysia in semifinal
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Indonesian Under-22 team players play against Malaysia in the 29th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games soccer semifinal match at the Shah Alam Stadium in Selangor, Malaysia, on Saturday. Indonesia lost to Malaysia at 1-0. (Antara Foto/Wahyu Putro A.)
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ndonesia's men’s soccer team has failed in its effort to win gold in the Southeast Asia Games (SEA Games) after losing in the semifinal match to host Malaysia late Saturday.
Malaysia's Thanbabalan Nadarajah's header at the 86th minute was the only goal scored in the match, played before nearly 80,000 spectators at the Shah Alam Stadium in Selangor.
Indonesia's head coach, Luis Milla, said his team had been disadvantaged by its tight schedule. Indonesia played its last preliminary match against Cambodia on Thursday, while the opposing side played its last previous match against Laos on Wednesday.
"Our objective now is to win bronze. We have three days to recover both mentally and physically," the Spaniard told the press via a translator.
In Saturday's showdown, Indonesia had a chance to equalize the score at the stoppage time, when winger Osvaldo Haay was brought down inside the penalty box. Despite protests from Indonesian players, the referee dismissed the call.
Indonesia will vie with Myanmar to win bronze on Tuesday. Myanmar lost 1-0 to Thailand in another semifinal match.
Indonesia won its second and last gold medal in the sport in the 1991 Games after beating host Philippines in a penalty shootout.
