April 19 – Indonesia turned form and expectations on their head at the AFC U23 Asian Cup last night with a 1-0 win over Australia in Group A to keep them in the hunt for progression to the knockout rounds.
Qatar became the first team to qualify for the quarter finals with a last gasp 2-1 win over Jordan. Two months ago the Qataris beat the Jordanian 3-0 in the final of the Asian Cup.
Indonesia are competing at their first U23 finals having impressed as a developing nation at the Asian Cup in January in the group stages.
With both the U23s and the senior team managed by Shin Tae-yong, the Indonesians are building a style and pattern to their game.
Komang Teguh’s was enough to dispatch Australia who have just one point from two games having drawn with Jordan in their first match of the competition.
The Aussies must beat the Group A leaders Qatar in the final round of group matches on Sunday to have any chance of progressing.
Qatar, who opened the finals with a 2-0 win over Indonesia, looked to be heading for a 1-1 draw with Jordan after Abdulla Alyazidi’s first half goal was equalised in the second half by a Aref Haitham penalty.
In the 13th minute of added time Qatar scored their winner. Substitutes Jassem Alsharshani and Mohammed Al Manai combined with Alsharshani’s cross met by Manai’s header to make it 2-1.
In the other groups South Korea and Japan are level on three points in group B after one game. Saudi Arabia and Thailand and level with one win each in Group C, while Uzbekistan and Vietnam are similarly tied at the top of Group D.
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