Jan 18 2009
Indonesian Front Line Shows Signs Of Life
Indonesia’s front line is showing signs of improvement ahead of the national team’s 2011 Asian Cup qualifying campaign.
Its defense, on the other hand, might be another matter.
Indonesia wrapped up its slate of warm-ups for its Group B match against Oman with a 3-2 defeat of Omani club Al-Shabab on Thursday. After enduring criticism for their wastefulness in front of goal, Indonesia’s forwards struck three times on a cold, rainy night at Seeb Stadium in Muscat.
Budi Sudarsono, playing at wing- forward in coach Benny Dollo’s 4-3-3, opened the scoring in the 14th minute, and striker Bambang Pamungkas scored in the 35th and 55th minutes against a club currently sixth in the Omani first division.
“The win brings optimism to the entire team before facing Oman,” Rahim Soekasah, chief of the National Team Body, or BTN, said on Friday.
“Playing in that kind of weather — the temperature was 14 degrees Celsius — will be a good experience for us because there’s a chance we’ll have to play against Oman in the same conditions.”
Weather has been an issue for Indonesia since arriving in the Middle East on Monday.
Hard rains and sand storms halted training on Tuesday and Wednesday, forcing players indoors to the hotel gym.
Benny has more pressing concerns than the weather, though. His back line has conceded three goals in two warm-up matches, two on Thursday and one to the Pelita Jaya under-21 team last Friday.
