SINGAPORE – They’ve by no means received Asean soccer’s premier event regardless of reaching the ultimate of the AFF Championship 5 occasions however Indonesia despatched a warning to the title contenders by swatting apart Cambodia 4-2 of their Suzuki Cup opener on Thursday (Dec 9).
The final group to take the pitch at this version, the Indonesians displayed their attacking prowess in an entertaining affair earlier than 673 ticketed followers on the Bishan Stadium.
The outcome was spectacular given the restrictions positioned on the present group. In a repeat of the 2016 version, coach Shin Tae-yong was allowed to pick solely two gamers from anyone membership because the Indonesian league, Liga 1, continues to be ongoing.
That meant a number of huge names like Ilija Spasojevic, the present prime scorer within the league, and Persib Bandung star midfielder Marc Klok have been disregarded, and several other unproven kids have been referred to as up as an alternative. Within the 30-man squad, solely skipper Evan Dimas and centre-backs Fachrudin Aryanto and Victor Igbonefo have greater than 10 official caps to their names.
The Indonesians defied the restrictions to succeed in the 2016 closing and can be hoping for a repeat this yr spurred on by their younger squad’s fearless show at Bishan.
Cambodia coach Hirose Ryu rang the modifications in a bid to supply a greater efficiency from his facet after Monday’s 3-1 loss to Malaysia, with solely 4 gamers that began that opening recreation within the beginning line-up on Thursday.
However the plan backfired as Indonesia have been fast off the blocks , with their fast, penetrative play punishing an apathetic Cambodia.
The Indonesians took solely 4 minutes to open the scoring, with Rachmat Irianto giving his facet the lead with an ideal header from Dimas’ nook.
The captain turned from supplier to scorer within the 18th minute when his shot from an acute angle within the field nestled into the underside left nook of the online.
Two then grew to become three within the thirty third when Irianto scored his second objective in the identical approach he did his first – off a header from Dimas’ nook.
Cambodia then took a leaf out of Indonesia’s playbook when Yue Safy pulled one again within the thirty seventh minute with a header from a nook.
Indonesia added a fourth within the 54th by means of Ramai Rumakiek, who lower inside from the left flank earlier than unleashing a fierce strike previous goalkeeper Hul Kimhuy.
Substitute Prak Mony Udom lowered the deficit for Cambodia within the sixtieth when his free kick took a deflection off the Indonesian wall earlier than it discovered its approach into the online.
Indonesia will play their second match of the event on Sunday towards Laos whereas Cambodia face Laos on Dec 15.
