2023 Asian Games: Indonesian U-24 National Team Meets Uzbekistan in the Round of 16

The U-24 Indonesian national team at the 2023 Asian Games. (Photo: Doc. PSSI)

JAKARTA – The Indonesian U-24 national team (Timnas) will certainly compete against Uzbekistan in the last 16 of the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou, China.

This certainty came after Uzbekistan left Group C. They occupied this position after a narrow 2-1 win over Hong Kong at the Shangcheng Sports Center Stadium, Monday, September 25, 2023.

Uzbekistan remains at the top of the group standings with a collection of 6 points from the two matches played against Hong Kong. The two teams met twice because this group only consisted of them.

Two other teams in this group, Syria and Afghanistan, did not participate because they withdrew. Therefore, Hong Kong, which did not get a single point, still qualified for the last 16 as group runners up.

Meanwhile, Indonesia secured a ticket in the last 16 of the quadrennial event after being confirmed as being among the four best third-place teams.

Indra Sjafri's troops finished the Group F phase with one win and two defeats. Indonesia is able to excel over Chinese Taipei which is the caretaker.

The top two places in this group are occupied by North Korea and Kyrgyzstan. Korea emerged as group winner with a collection of nine points, while Kyrgyzstan was runner up with 3 points or only superior on goal difference over Indonesia and Taipei.

In the round of 16, Indonesia will certainly have the additional strength of two more players, namely Ramadhan Sananta and Beckham Putra.

Previously, these two names were unable to strengthen Indonesia in the group phase for their own reasons. Sananta couldn't because he didn't get the club's permission, while Beckham was still injured.