Indonesia Suffers Narrow Loss to Thailand in AFF U-15 Championship
Jakarta. Indonesia's U-15 national football team suffered a narrow 0-1 defeat to Thailand in the second match of Group A at the Asean Football Federation U-15 Championship on Tuesday (11/07) in Chonburi, Thailand.
After constant pressure, Thai captain Kittichai Yaidee fired a shot just wide of goal in the ninth minute, having beaten Indonesian keeper Ahludz Dzikri Fikri with a half volley.
Six minutes later, Indonesia's midfielder David Maulana's booming free-kick was narrowly saved by Thai goalie Anuchid Taweesri.
No goal was scored in the first half despite the teams exchanging fast-moving attacks.
The young Indonesian team could have led in the 53rd minute but Bagus Kahfi Alfikri's shot from a narrow space inside the box hit the bar.
Thailand thought they had scored a goal 12 minutes later through striker Pongpranod Kaewwichien before it was disallowed for an offside by Vietnamese referee Hoang Ngoc Ha.
Finally in the 73rd minute substitute Suphanat Mueanta carried the ball inside Indonesia's penalty box before placing a beautiful lob into the net.
"We lost, but earned some respect. We're still optimistic, there are still three matches left. We can take the nine remaining points," Indonesia's head coach Fachri Husaeni said in a statement after the game.
"The boys said they will work hard to win the next three matches," he added.
Fachri said he had some reservations about referee Hoang Ngoc Ha's performance. "I don't want to make a judgement on the referee, but he made some decisions which didn't help us," he said.
"We already have six points. But it's too soon to tell if we're going to reach the semi-finals. We'll just have to prepare well for the next match," Thailand's head coach Salvador Garcia said.
Since this is their second win of the tournament, Thailand now tops Group A. Indonesia is now fifth, bottom of the group.
Indonesia will play Australia's young Socceroos on Thursday (13/07).
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