DOHA: Komang Teguh’s first-half header earned tournament debutants Indonesia a 1-0 win over Australia at Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium in Group A on Thursday to reignite his nation's challenge for a place in the quarter-finals of the AFC U23 Asian Cup Qatar 2024.
Ernando Ari Sutaryadi saved Mohamed Toure’s 25th-minute penalty before Komang’s close-range header 20 minutes later allowed Shin Tae-yong’s team to pick up their first win of the campaign after an opening 2-0 loss against hosts Qatar on Monday.
The result leaves Australia on one point from two games having drawn with Jordan in their first match of the competition and Tony Vidmar’s side needs to win against the Qataris in the final round of group matches on Sunday to have any chance of progressing.
Playing in front of a raucous band of Indonesian fans, Shin’s side threatened as early as the second minute, Jeam Kelly’s rising shot deflected wide after Rafael Struick’s pullback had found the Persik forward with time to take aim.
Moments later Mohamed Toure lashed over the bar as Australia surged forward in an entertaining opening to the game.
Marselinho Ferdinan’s direct running had the Australian defence on the back foot before Struick pulled his right foot shot from the edge of the area wide of Patrick Beach’s goal as Indonesia went on the attack.
The Southeast Asians looked set to be stung midway through the half, however, when Komang conceded a penalty, the ball hitting the defender on the hand after Toure’s attempt from distance and referee Majed Al Shamrani awarded the spot-kick after a review.
Toure stepped up, only to be denied by Ernando as he dived to his left. From the resulting corner Toure headed against the crossbar as the Indonesians eventually, and frantically, cleared their lines.
Marselinho skewed his effort wide and Toure was again denied by the Indonesian defence as the action continued to swing from one end of the pitch to the other.
As the half entered the final minute the Indonesians took the lead. Witan Sulaeman’s corner was nodded by Kelly to Nathan Tjoe-A-On on the edge of the area and his mishit shot was headed beyond Beach by Komang from six yards out.
Ernando denied Toure again seven minutes after the interval with a stop low to his right while Jacob Italiano’s attempt was deflected wide for a corner as the Australians steadily increased the pressure.
Toure thumped his shot over the bar from the edge of the area with 15 minutes remaining and Vidmar introduced FIFA World Cup forward Garang Kuol in a late effort to find a way through, but the Indonesians held on.
