JAKARTA (23 May 2012) – The newly-assembled Indonesia national team was denied a place in the final of the Al-Nakbah Football Championship when they were fell to a 2-1 loss to hosts Palestine in the semi-finals last night at the Dora International Stadium in Hebron.
The Indonesians, who are using the meet as part of their tune-up for the AFF Suzuki Cup 2012, had taken the lead when Irfan Bachdim found the target after just twelve minutes.
But the Palestinians fought back with the equaliser from Abu Saleh on 37 minute before nailing the winner off Roberto Ketllun in the 65th minute.
“We were denied a place in the final in a respectable manner,” said Ramadhan Pohan, the Indonesian national team manager afterwards. “The players played very well and they gave it their all in the game, so there is no dishonour in losing in the semi-finals.”
Indonesia made the semi-finals of the championship after beating Mauritania 2-0 and then holding Iraq Kurdistan to a 1-1 draw in their second game in the group.
