Indra Sjafri Admits The U-20 Indonesian National Team Weak Air Duel After Losing 0-3 To Iran

Indonesia U-20 lost against Iran U-20 in the first match of the 2025 U-20 Asian Cup (doc. PSSI).

JAKARTA - The U-20 Indonesian national team coach, Indra Sjafri, commented on the performance of his team after losing 0-3 to Iran U-20 in the 2025 U-20 Asian Cup. The coach said his team was still weak in the duel for the upper balls.

The Indonesian U-20 and Iranian national teams met in the inaugural match of Group C of the 2025 U-20 Asian Cup on Thursday, February 13, 2025, WIB night, at the Shenzhen Youth Football Training Base Center Stadium. After the match, the coach admitted that the opponent's game, according to him, deserves appreciation.

"Iran is good, I think it needs to be counted as the best team. They play as a team very well and have good advantages in the top ball," said Indra Sjafri after the match, quoted from the PSSI release, Friday, February 14, 2025.

Regarding the team's defeat, Indra Sjafri said it happened because of two factors, namely the team's weakness in the upper and weak ball duels in carrying out counter attacks.

"In anticipating the top balls, one-on-one duels are weak. Actually we have speed for counter attack, but we can't maximize it," said Indra Sjafri.

In that match, the U-20 Indonesian national team conceded in the fifth minute through an Iranian player's header, Hesan Nafari.

Then Iran widened the advantage to 2-0 through Esmaeil Gholizadeh's overhead kick in the 63rd minute. Finally, Indonesia U-20 conceded through the header of Mobin Dehgan's player in the 70th minute.

This crushing defeat made Indonesia U-20 occupy the caretaker position of Group C with zero points.

Even so, Indonesia U-20 still has a chance to improve its acquisition. You see, after this Garuda Nusantara will face Uzbekistan on Sunday, February 16, 2025, WIB night.