PSSI Ketum Demands To The U-23 Indonesian National Team Ahead Of The Match Against Timor Leste: Must Win, No Other Words!

The U-23 Indonesian National Team for the 2021 SEA Games. (Doc. PSSI)

JAKARTA – PSSI General Chair, Mochamad Iriawan, demanded the Indonesian U-23 national team win against Timor Leste in the second match of the 2021 SEA Games group stage, Tuesday, May 10. Victory in that match will pave the way for the Garuda Muda Squad to the semifinals.

"Against Timor Leste, you must win, there is no other word. Because a win will open the way to the semifinals," said Iriawan as quoted by PSSI's official website.

Indonesia and Timor Leste both lost in their inaugural match in Group A. The Indonesian national team lost to Vietnam with a score of 0-3, while Timor Leste was beaten by the Philippines with the same score.

On paper, Indonesia should be able to get three points when they meet Timor Leste because they still have a head-to-head advantage. Of the four most recent meetings, Indonesia has won three times and only got one draw.

"Even so, I want the children not to underestimate Timor Leste," said the figure who is familiarly called Iwan Bule.

The Indonesian U-23 national team currently sits in fourth position in the temporary standings. Meanwhile, Timor Leste followed in fifth position.

To be able to penetrate the semifinals, Indonesia must at least sit in second place in the final group stage standings. For that, the Garuda squad is required to win in the remaining three matches against Timor Leste, the Philippines, and Myanmar.

In the match against Timor Leste later, Shin Tae-yong's squad will get additional ammunition in the defense line. Asnawi Mangkualam is reported to have joined the team.

The Ansan Greeners player landed in Vietnam on Saturday night from South Korea and had already attended training on Sunday, May 8. Meanwhile, the presence of Elkann Baggot is still awaited by the U-23 Indonesian national team.