September 8, 2025 | 09:39 am
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The U-23 Indonesia national team still has a chance to qualify for the 2026 U-23 Asian Cup despite the tough situation, being in second place in Group J during the qualifying rounds. With four points from two matches, they are two points behind South Korea, making winning the third match the only way.
In the third and final match of the U-23 Asian Cup Qualifiers group stage, the game will take place at Gelora Delta Sidoarjo Stadium, East Java, on Tuesday, September 9, 2025. The match is scheduled to kick off at 7:30 PM WIB (Western Indonesian Time). The match can be watched live on Indosiar and streamed on Vidio.
South Korea is considered the favorite in this group. They achieved two victories with clean sheets in their first two matches. After winning 5-0 against Macau, they defeated Laos with a score of 7-0, placing them at the top of the group with 6 points.
Meanwhile, Indonesia is in second place in Group J after drawing 0-0 against Laos and winning 5-0 against Macau. In the second match, Indonesia took the lead in the fourth minute with an own goal by Leong Lek Hang. Arkhan Fikri extended the lead in the 17th minute, putting Indonesia ahead 2-0 in the first half.
After the break, Indonesia added to their lead. Rayhan Hannan scored a goal in the 47th minute, followed by Zanadin Fariz in the 68th minute, and Rafael Struick scored the final goal in the 75th minute. This convincing victory provides the Garuda squad with confidence in facing South Korea.
Leading with 6 points and a 12-goal difference demonstrates the solid offensive and defensive strength of South Korea. In the upcoming final match, Indonesia must be prepared to anticipate several young players of the Taeguk Warrior who pose a threat in their defense.
For instance, forward Jeong Jae-Sang was the opening goal scorer against Macau, executing the goal in the 13th minute. He then scored his second goal from a penalty kick in the 50th minute after a foul in the penalty box. The Daegu FC player from the South Korean K League 1 is a key player in the forward line with sharp goal-scoring instincts.
Sang-hyeok Cho, playing as a striker, managed to score a hat-trick in the 7-0 victory against Laos. His contribution of three goals demonstrates Sang-hyeok's sharpness as the main striker or second striker.
Park Seung-ho, playing as a forward, scored in both matches of the Asia U-23 Cup Qualifiers, with one goal against Macau in the 49th minute and one penalty goal against Laos in the 69th minute. Park can play as a striker or second striker with good finishing abilities.
The seven goals by the young Taegeuk Warrior team-the nickname for South Korea-were scored in the second half. This indicates a tactical adjustment after the break, with a focus on quick attacks and high pressure, whether through headers or long-range shots. The goals from the South Korean players prove the team's effective attacking capabilities.
Kim Ji-soo, the center-back, is a key player in South Korea's defense. Currently playing for Kaiserslautern FC in the 2nd Bundesliga of German football, he is considered the backbone of the defense. He is the only player in the squad with a career in Europe.
Football analyst Kesit Budi Handoyo stated that Gerald Vanenburg's preparation to lead Indonesia to the 2026 Asia U-23 Cup is sufficient. Previously, Indonesia reached the finals of the AFF U-23 Cup 2025. There is time to improve in each match.
"They should be ready now. There should be no more talk about this team not being ready, from all aspects, whether defense, attack, and tactics. Then, who are the players chosen within the framework of the team prepared by Vanenburg," he said when contacted by Tempo on Sunday, September 7, 2025.
Kesit explained that in the first match, Indonesia seemed to struggle to score despite dominating the game. The change occurred when they faced Macau in the second match. "Because the players' creativity is still lacking," he said.
The U-23 Indonesia national team needs to improve their defensive side. The young Garuda was not conceded by the previous two opponents because both teams did not have strong capabilities in the forward line, making it easy to thwart Laos and Macau's counterattacks. "But when facing Korea, their style will definitely be different," Kesit said.
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