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JAKARTA: Indonesia secured first place in Group A and a spot in the
AFF Suzuki Cup semi-finals after recording their second emphatic win
of the competition with a 6-0 demolition of Laos on Saturday.
Skipper Firman Utina scored twice and Muhammad Ridwan, Irfan Bachdim,
Arif Suyono and Oktovianus Maniani added a goal each to send Alfred
Riedl's side through to the last four with a game to spare.
The Indonesians, who trounced Malaysia 5-1 in their opening game, will
now meet the runners-up from Group B in the last four with the second
leg of the tie in Jakarta on Sunday, December 19
Roared on by their noisy home fans at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium,
the Indonesian began the match in energetic fashion and threatened to
overrun the Laotian defence early on.
However, the Indochinese side stood firm in the early stages and
nearly took a shock lead in the 10th minute when Kanlaya Sysomvang
launched a stinging drive from 25 metres that came back off the angle
of post and crossbar.
Indonesia patiently probed at the Laotian defence and their
opportunity finally arrived in the 27th minute after Christian
Gonzales was tripped in the box by defender Saynakhonevieng
Phommapanya.
Singapore referee Daud Abbas pointed to the spot and Firman stepped up
to roll the ball past goalkeeper Sengphachan Bounthisanh to make it
1-0.
Gonzales had the chance to add a second three minutes later when the
ball was cut back to him from the right byline by Muhammad Ridhwan but
the Uruguay-born striker was unable to get the crucial touch to turn
it in.
It was only a brief reprieve though for Laos as Indonesia made it 2-0
in the 34the minute with a fine solo effort by Ridwan. The Sriwijaya
player beat Khamla Pinkeo to a 50-50 ball just outside the Laos box
and went past a couple of defenders and the goalkeeper before putting
his effort in off defender Kitsada Thongkhen.
Indonesia's bombardment continued after the break. Sengphachan made a
good save to deny Gonzales but in the 50th minute, Firman gathered in
a pass on the right of the Laos box before rifling in his side's third
goal.
Ridwan should have made it 4-0 on the hour when the ball was squared
to him on the break by Oktovianus but he blazed over from just inside
the box.
The fourth goal did arrive two minutes later after a nice lay-off by
Gonzales released Irfan, who outpaced the Laotian defence before
coolly sliding the ball past Sengphachan.
Arif Suyono then got on the scoresheet in the 76th minute, slamming a
loose ball home from close range after Sengphachan had made a good
save to deny Hamka Hamsah.
With nine minutes left, Maman Abdurachman released Oktovianus, who
held off the challenge of f two defenders before stroking the ball
past the helpless Sengphachan.
