Wimbo Satwiko and Paul Freelend

Indonesian players walking off the field after their loss to Oman ended any chance of qualifying for the Asian Cup. (JG Photo/Afriadi Hikmal)

Indonesia's Asian Cup Hopes Die in Familiar Style

Thanks to Wednesday’s 2-1 loss to Oman, Indonesian fans will spend next January partying like it’s 1992.

Defeat in its penultimate 2011 Asian Cup qualifier mathematically eliminated Indonesia from contention, condemning it to missing its first continental championship since the 1992 edition in Hiroshima.

The result had all the hallmarks of recent Indonesian vintage -- giving up a goal on a set piece, calamitous organization and playing kick-and-rush football when the team ran out of ideas.

Coach Benny Dollo, who claimed after the match that his team only had enough fitness for 45 minutes, said injuries kept Indonesia from its true potential.

“There were too many problems in our preparations as were hit by an injury plague. Even Charis Yulianto had a swollen foot this morning,” Benny said. “The boys are not in good condition as we played in the middle of [the Indonesian Super League season]. Rahmat Latief just played a few days prior to the match.”

The coach also chose to start Budi Sudarsono and Isnan Ali despite their suffering injuries prior to the match. Budi has also struggled to break into the first team at Persib Bandung, and his lack of match fitness showed as he departed after 36 minutes.

Oman made the breakthrough in a fashion sickeningly familiar to Indonesian fans. After one headed goal was called back for being taken from the wrong spot, Fawzi Bashir got on the end of the ensuing free kick and nodded home the opener after a half-hour.

Giving up goals off of set plays has been the bane of Indonesia’s existence under Benny. Three such goals saw Indonesia ushered out of the AFF Suzuki Cup earlier than expected.

Benny’s introduction of Talaohu Abdulmushafry for Budi looked inspired just as halftime beckoned. The substitute lofted a long ball into space for Boaz Solossa, and the Papuan used his speed and strength to muscle past two Oman defenders.

Fashioning a space to shoot, Boaz let fly toward Ali Al-Habsi. His shot took a deflection off one of the defender’s outstretched legs and squirted into the goal, setting off joyous scenes around Gelora Bung Karno Stadium.

Oman had it coming, its own coach Claude Le Roy said.

“I think we deserved to win. We played a very good game technically, tactically,” he said. “We weren’t arrogant, but we were a little too sure of our superiority in the first half and Boaz scored a goal. I was very happy with the first 30 minutes.

“I think we deserve to qualify from this group because even though there were a lot of handicaps against us in the beginning, we’re still alive. We opened the door to qualification today, and now we have to go through the door against Kuwait.”

Oman went back in front four minutes after halftime thanks to shoddy tackling from Indonesia. Three separate defenders hurled themselves into Ismail Sulaiman’s path as he dribbled into the box. None made contact with the ball or man, though, and the midfielder had time to steady himself before finishing high past goalkeeper Markus Haris Maulana.

Oddly, Indonesia did not focus on possessing the ball until after it went behind 2-1. It was content to hit long balls into space or up to Bambamg Pamungkas, who was operating as a target forward, for the first two-thirds of the match.

When it desperately needed a goal to salvage hopes of qualification, though, it spent far too much time playing the ball around the back line despite only token pressure from the Oman forwards.

Indonesia closes out qualification at Australia on March 3. Benny, whose contract expires at the end of January, did not sound confident he would be there as coach.

“Tomorrow, I go to Bandung with Persija,” he said. “When the contract is over, then it’s over. Both parties have to respect that. In the end, I would like to thank you all for your support for two years.”

Australia led a two-goal lead slip away in its 2-2 draw at Kuwait on Wednesday, leaving the Socceroos level with their host on eight points but second in Group B on goals scored. Australia needs a win against Indonesia to make sure of its place in the tournament proper.

The Lighter Side

With all the doom and gloom surrounding the national team, Indonesian fans should give thanks to Hendry Mulyadi.

While some supporters chose to vent their frustration by jeering or throwing projectiles at the pitch, Hendry was much more direct in his approach. He charged across the pitch in the dying moments of the match, nicked the ball off an Oman player and made for Al-Habsi’s goal.

Perhaps exhausted by his sprint, Hendry could only manage a weak attempt into Al-Habsi’s legs before a dozen brown-shirted security officers set upon him. He was eventually escorted off the field to the cheers of the remaining crowd.

Le Roy said he was not bothered by the brief interlude.

“The country of football in the world is England. They have tight security, and every year in England two, three, four or five spectators invade the field, sometimes naked. But still England is the best country in the world for football,” he said. “It’s not very important. The supporter was very peaceful, he was not aggressive. He tried to score one goal. Maybe it was a symbol for his players. I’m not shocked by that. It happens everywhere.”

Qualifying Wrap-Up

Southeast Asian teams had a difficult night elsewhere in qualifying on Wednesday. Singapore fell 3-1 at home to Iran, a result which guaranteed Iran a place at the Asian Cup, while Malaysia succumbed to a 90th-minute winner in its 1-0 loss at the United Arab Emirates.

Thailand drew 0-0 at home against Jordan, leaving second place in E behind Iran up for grabs on the final matchday. AFF Suzuki Cup champion Vietnam drew 1-1 at Lebanon, but it needed a victory to stand any chance of catching second-place China, which drew 0-0 at home against Group D leader Syria.

Sanfrecce Hiroshima striker Hisato Sato scored a hat-trick as Japan came from two goals down to win 3-2 at Yemen. Bahrain all but wrapped up qualification after routing Hong Kong 4-0 in Manama.

Eleven of the 16 places at the 2011 Asian Cup are already secure. Host Qatar, defending champion Iraq, Saudi Arabia and 2008 AFC Challenge Cup winner India are already guaranteed places, as is the winner of the 2010 Challenge Cup. Japan, Uzbekistan, the UAE, Syria, China and Iran advanced from the qualifying stage.

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