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With 2 Wins in 2 Matches, Indonesian Futsal Team Riding High
Saputra | April 07, 2010

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Indonesia made an ideal start to the AFF Futsal Championship, winning its first two matches to top the standings.

After beating Burma 7-4 in the opener on Tuesday, it routed Malaysia 6-0 at Phu Tho Stadium in Ho Chi Minh City on Wednesday. That left Indonesia with six points, equal with host Vietnam but ahead on goal difference.

The top two clubs in the five team, round-robin tournament advance to Sunday’s final.

“We were a lot more disciplined and patient this afternoon, and we defended well with our zonal marking strategy,” Indonesia coach Robby Hartono said. “We still have two more matches to go and I don’t think that it is right to say that we are already in the final, although the win over Malaysia was crucial.”

Seven-time defending champion Thailand is not in the tournament, choosing to face Argentina, Iran and Uzbekistan in its local Thai 5s event.

Indonesia went ahead after three minutes when captain Vennard Hutabarat blasted a shot past Malaysia goalkeeper S. Devandran. Indra Kurnia doubled the lead in the 12th minute.

Hairul Saleh Ohorella scored Indonesia’s third in the 27th minute, sparking a run of goals that put the match out of reach. Indra grabbed his second a minute later, and Sayan Karmadi made it 5-0 in the 29th. Jaelani Ladjanibi completed the rout a minute before full time.

Indonesia faces fellow co-favorite Vietnam today with first place on the line.

“Vietnam is better than Malaysia. They’re more mobile and their Italian coach is a clever tactician,” Robby said. “They also will have an advantage as Vietnam did not play [on Wednesday].”

Vietnam opened the tournament with an 8-1 defeat of Burma before beating the Philippines 4-0.

Also on Wednesday, the Philippines earned its first victory after beating Burma 5-2. It moved past Malaysia into third place by virtue of a better goal difference, with Burma propping up the table.