SEA Games Football Hanoi 2021: Indonesia's Gold Medal Mission Disappears After Thailand's Silence

Indonesia vs Thailand U-23 National Team (Twitter @pssi)

JAKARTA - The U-23 Indonesian national team failed to reach the final round of the 2021 SEA Games Hanoi after surrendering to Thailand in the semifinals on Thursday, 19 May.

Indonesia's mission to get a gold medal was dashed after losing 0-1 in extra time at Thien Truong Stadium, Nam Dinh, Vietnam.

At the beginning of the first half both teams played very carefully. The new game went much warmer when the game entered the mid-minutes.

Indonesia was recorded to have made three potential goals, while Thailand spread one golden threat. Unfortunately, until halftime both teams did not produce a single goal.

After playing without a goal in the first half, Thailand increased the intensity of their game early in the second half. Alexandre Polking's team began to actively surround the Garuda squad's defense.

Shin Tae-yong then made an interesting decision to leave Witan and Marselino. The South Korean coach replaced the two players by entering Saddil Ramdani and Syahrian Abhimanyu in the 63rd minute.

Seven minutes after entering, Abhimanyu immediately provided a threat to the Thai goal through a free kick. However, the Persija Jakarta player's efforts led too precisely to the opposing goalkeeper.

Indonesia almost broke the deadlock in the 77th minute through Marc Klok's header using the ball thrown up from Abimanyu's corner. Luckily the Thai goalkeeper managed to thwart the opportunity.

Abhimanyu again threatened the Thai goal in the 82nd minute, but an effort from outside the penalty box was easily prevented by War Elephant Country goalkeeper, Kawin Thammasatchanan.

In extra time, Indonesia got another chance through Klok's free kick. However, that effort was too precise to Kawin so the score remained 0-0 and the match had to continue into 2 x 15 minutes of extra time.

The extra round game has only been running for five minutes, Thailand immediately broke the deadlock. Weerathep Pomphun's hard kick in the penalty box could not be dammed by Ernando Ari.

Indonesia's efforts to make a goal back in the remaining time did not produce results. This failure made Indonesia's target to get the first gold medal since 1991 failed.