Star striker Bambang Pamungkas' 64th-minute winner gave co-hosts Indonesia a dream start to their Asian Cup campaign here yesterday as they shocked Bahrain 2-1.
Pamungkas was on hand to slot home the rebound after the excellent Firman Utina's fierce drive had been tipped onto the post by Bahrain goalkeeper Abdulrahman Abdulkarim at full stretch.
That gave the minnows an unlikely victory over Bahrain, who finished fourth in the competition three years ago in China.
PHOTO: AFP
"We played like an army," Indonesia's Bulgarian coach Ivan Kolev said.
"They wanted to win and they proved they can win. All of my players performed well. No one disappointed," he said.
He also paid tribute to the fans, with at least 70,000 cramming the stadium to witness only the second victory by Indonesia ever in three Asian Cup campaigns.
PHOTO: AFP
"Thank you to the fans, they made the difference," Kolev said.
Bahrain mentor Milan Macala said the reason his team crashed to defeat was because they failed to take their chances.
"We had three or four good chances and players with experience like us must score. This is the reason we lost. There are no other reasons," he said.
The skillful Indonesians settled first, making light of their physical inferiority, and gave notice of their counter-attacking threat with a series of lightning forays deep into Bahraini territory that ended only with poor decision-making.
Bahrain didn't heed the warning signs and the hosts deservedly opened the scoring on 14 minutes with a move of exquisite simplicity.
Utina timed his through ball to perfection and lofted it over a static defense for Budi Sudarsono to run onto, round Abdulkarim and slot into the unguarded net.
The Gelora Bung Karno stadium, of one the biggest in Asia, erupted with unbridled joy.
Bahrain were looking rattled but Indonesia's suspect defense always seemed likely to offer them a way back into the match -- and so it proved on 27 minutes.
Muhammad Ridwan dallied on the left instead of clearing the danger and was robbed by the overlapping Ala'a Hubail who crossed for Abdullah Omar at the near post. Indonesia 'keeper Yandri Pitoy blocked his close range shot but the ball rebounded to Sayed Mahmood Jalal to slot home.
The second half opened at a frantic pace and it was end to end action aided handsomely by woeful, amateurish defending, particularly by Indonesia.
Following Pamungkas's goal, Indonesia's defending became more and more desperate, offering Bahrain encouragement.
Nigeria-born striker Jaycee John Akwani had the ball in the net 13 minutes from time, but it was disallowed after he used his arm to bring the ball under control.
Moments later Rashed Al Dosari almost leveled as he was given time and space by a failed offside trap to pick his spot, but his chipped finish cannoned back off the bar.
The hosts remained dangerous and Sudarsono could have settled the tie nine minutes from time but he connected only with air from Pamungkas's teasing cross.
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