Jakarta, IO – Indonesia National Football Team (Timnas) secured a spot in the Round of 16 of Asian Cup 2023 after Kyrgyzstan vs Oman ended with a draw (1-1) in the final match of Group F, Thursday (25/1) evening.
Oman scored first in the 8th minute but Kyrgyzstan leveled the position with a goal from Ghana-born striker Joel Kojo a few minutes later, per Kompas, Fri (26/1).
The results allowed Indonesia to advance through the best third place path.
The Garuda squad came to the 2023 Asian Cup with the youngest team in the tournament and the status as the lowest-ranked team. Trained by former South Korea National Team coach Shin Tae-yong, they lost 1-3 to Iraq in the first match of Group D.
However, they managed to beat Vietnam 1-0 in the second match. However, in the third match against one of the strongest teams in the tournament, Japan, they had to concede 1-3.
In the previous editions, Indonesia, which qualified four times, always lost in the group stage.
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With this achievement, Shin Tae-Yong said he was proud of the players. He said this was a fruit of the team’s hard work so far.
“Very happy, even though we won once and lost twice, every match the players worked hard. That’s what takes us here,” said Shin Tae-yong.
Indonesia will face Australia in the next round. The match will be held on Sunday (28/1) at 6.30pm WIB at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium, Doha, Qatar. (un)