JAKARTA (22 Aug 2011) – A Bambang Pamungkas penalty conversion in the second half saved Indonesia the blushes when they held the Indonesia Under-23 side to a 1-1 draw in a friendly held this week.
The game was to be part of the tune-up for the Indonesia national team for their third round 2014 World Cup qualifiers early next month.
In the match that was played at the Manahan Stadium in Solo, it was the Indonesia U23 side who took the lead in the 26th minute off a left foot shot from Septia Hadi to beat custodian Kurnia Meiga.
Several changes in the second half saw Indonesia chief coach Wim Rijsbergen giving the chance to Irfan Bachdim for a run while the U23 team – which is being prepared for the SEA Games later in the year – saw the debut of three naturalised players, Kim Kurniawan, Diego Michiels and Ruben Wuarbanaran.
A handball on defender Jajang Mulyana saw the Indonesia national team earning a penalty at the hour mark and veteran striker Bambang Pamungkas (pix) did not disappoint from the mark.
