Jakarta, IO – The Indonesian national team scored 1-1 against Ecuador in the opening match of the FIFA U-17 World Cup at Gelora Bung Tomo, Surabaya, Friday (10/11) evening.
The Young Garuda squad took the lead in the 22nd minute when Arkhan Kaka scored a goal after receiving a flat pass from Riski Afrisal from the left side. However, the 1-0 score did not last long. Six minutes later the Ecuadorian national team managed to equalize through a header from Allen Obando who was left unguarded in front of the Indonesian goalpost. The score 1-1 concluded the first half.
Entering the second half, Ecuador became more aggressive and put on more pressure. The team nicknamed “La Tri” increasingly dominated in ball possession. Several times it took the advantage of the speed of their wing players to tear apart Indonesia’s defense, but the no further goal was created until the referee blew the final whistle.
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The match was watched by 40,000 spectators including President Joko Widodo, FIFA president Gianni Infantino, Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto, PSSI chairman Erick Tohir, Youth and Sports Minister Dito Aryotedjo, and other officials.
(IO/Faisal Ramadhan)