Flashback: Widodo Putro's screamer announces Indonesia’s arrival

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Flashback: Widodo Putro's screamer announces Indonesia’s arrival

Bali: As the cross floated in from the right, Widodo Putro adjusted his body and, eyes firmly fixed on the ball, perfectly executed the most acrobatic of overhead kicks to give Indonesia the lead against Kuwait in their maiden AFC Asian Cup match on December 4, 1996.

Never before had the Southeast Asian nation qualified for the competition but Putro’s effort announced their arrival in stunning fashion and, in a tournament remembered for an array of fabulous goals, the forward's remains the standout strike and worthy of lighting up any arena.

Twenty-one years to the day since the net bulged at Abu Dhabi’s Zayed Sports City Stadium – in a game that Indonesia would eventually draw 2-2 – the-AFC.com spoke with the now Bali United manager about a goal that will live long in the memory.

https://www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/image_201_20_28widodo_20putro_29_png.html

https://www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/image_202_20_28widodo_20putro_29_png.html