JAKARTA - PSSI Supporter Development Division Head Budiman Dalimunthe said that, as of 14:40 WIB, around 7,000 tickets for the final Group A match of the 2022 AFF U-16 Cup Indonesia versus Vietnam, Saturday 6 August, had been sold.
To Antara in Sleman, Yogyakarta, Saturday, he said that it was almost half of the maximum quota provided by PSSI for the match which took place at the Maguwoharjo Stadium, Sleman, starting at 20.00 WIB. "The optimal quota for the match is 15,000-16,000 spectators," said Budiman.
He also predicts that the number of ticket purchases will continue to grow because PSSI is still opening sales until the match starts.
Thus, the number of Indonesian supporters who watched the match versus Vietnam was far more than when the squad nicknamed Garuda Asia faced the Philippines and Singapore.
When they met the Philippines, Sunday (31/7), there were 1,439 supporters who watched live in Maguwoharjo, while when they met Singapore, there were 1,759 supporters who filled the stadium.
The increasing enthusiasm of supporters for the Indonesian U-16 national team match was welcomed by PSSI.
However, PSSI asked the Indonesian audience and supporters at the Maguwoharjo Stadium to keep themselves away from actions that were detrimental to the U-16 national team and their own supporters.
"We ask that there be no flares, smoke bombs and racism. Let's give the best support through singing, yelling and interesting choreography," Budiman said as quoted from Antara.
Indonesia's match against Vietnam will determine which team will qualify directly for the 2022 AFF U-16 Cup semifinals as Group A winners.
For that, Indonesia only needs a draw. Vietnam must win to advance to the top four.
If Indonesia or Vietnam lose, the opportunity to reach the semifinals is still open from the second best ranked slot in the group phase. Competitors for the position are representatives of Group C.
The calculations, for example being subdued by Vietnam, then Indonesia has six points. Likewise, if Vietnam is defeated by Indonesia.
In Group C, after undergoing two matches, there are still three teams namely Malaysia (four points), Myanmar (four points) and Cambodia (three points) that have the opportunity to advance to the semifinals.
The last match of Group C, Monday (8/8), will bring together Myanmar against Cambodia and Malaysia versus Australia.
If Myanmar and Malaysia both win, they will have seven points and that ensures either Indonesia or Vietnam (the team that lost in the last Group A match) are eliminated from the 2022 AFF U-16 Cup.
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