YANGON (14 Dec 2013) – Indonesia, silver medallists at the last SEA Games, will have a tough time making the cut after they were held to a 0-0 draw by their archrivals Timor Leste in a SEA Games men’s football match at the Youth Training Centre in Yangon tonight. Indonesia only had themselves to blame for blowing the numerous chances they had.
The Indonesians needed full points to keep their semifinal dreams alive, but Timor Leste had other ideas and battled all the way to the end to hold their neighbours. Indonesia have four points from three matches and have to wait for their last group match against hosts Myanmar on Monday to try and qualify.
“The boys were full of fighting spirit today. They stopped everything that Timor threw at them. We also created a lot of chances, unfortunately, the boys could not score,” said coach Rachmad Darmawan today.
In the first half, Bayu Gatra Sanggiawan and Manahati Lestusen had shots in the 13th and 23rd minutes but their attempts were off the target. After the break, Rachmad made some changes including bringing in the nippy Rizki Ramdani who had at least three shots in the last 15 minutes,
After watching in dismay as his superb freekick was saved by goalkeeper Ramos Manxances in the 83rd minute, Rizki could not believe his luck the keeper again denied him in 90th minute.
