Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Bangkok: Indonesia overcame a resilient Tajikistan on Tuesday to begin their AFC U-20 Futsal Championship campaign with an impressive 5-3 win.
The victory sees Indonesia go second in Group B behind Japan who had beaten Chinese Taipei 4-0 in the group’s earlier game at Hua Mark Indoor Stadium.
In what would prove to be a distinctly tight encounter, it was Tajikistan who took the lead courtesy of Shohrukh Hamidov’s neat fourth minute finish.
Iqboli Vositzoda then doubled the Central Asia side’s advantage, before Faishal Ammar reduced the deficit on 13 minutes and - with Tajikistan goalkeeper and captain Firuz Bekmurodov given a red card for handling outside his area - Syauqi Saud drew Indonesia level three minutes after the break with a neatly worked routine from the ensuing penalty.
Umed Kusiev edged Tajikistan ahead two minutes later, only to see Rio Pangetsu Putra and Syauqi’s second of the game hand the advantage back to the Southeast Asians.
Any thoughts of yet another Tajik revival were to be dispelled however when Arjuna Rinaldi pounced to ensure all three points for Indonesia with two minutes remaining.
Indonesia’s next match: May 17, Indonesia v Chinese Taipei
Tajikistan’s next match: May 17, Tajikistan v Vietnam
Indonesia: FAISHAL 13’, SYAUQI 23’, RIO PANGESTU 28’, SYAUQI 30’ ARJUNA 38'
Tajikistan: HAMIDOV 4’, VOSITZODA 12’, KUZIEV 25’
Photo: AFC