2024 AFF U-19 Cup: Indonesia Wins 6-2 Vs Timor Leste, Seals Semifinals As Group A Champion

Indonesia U-19 won a landslide victory over Timor Leste in the final match of the 2024 AFF U-19 Cup (Instagram/@timas.indonesia).

The U-19 Indonesian national team managed to advance to the semifinals of the 2024 AFF U-19 Cup after securing the top position in Group A standings. This certainty was obtained after ensuring a 6-2 victory over Timor Leste in the third matchday of the 2024 AFFU Cup group phase.

In the initial appearance at Gelora Bung Tomo Stadium (GBT), Surabaya on Tuesday, July 23, the U-19 Indonesian national team immediately appeared pressing since the match started. The rapid movement of Indra Sjafri's team made Timor Leste troops busy building the defense.

Ten minutes into the run, it was Timor Leste's strike who tried to counterattack which was quite a hassle for the hosts. Entering the 16th minute, the golden opportunity was on the side of Garuda Muda through Muhammad Ragil who took advantage of Ridzjar Nurviat's cross, but his shot was too weak that the Timor Leste goalkeeper Alexander Oscar could still push it.

After this first effort, the U-19 Indonesian national team only needed a three-minute difference to finally open up the 1-0 advantage. The opening score was created in the 19th minute through Jens Ravens' movement which greeted Rizky's Kafiatur corner even though he hit Kadek Arel.

After pocketing the opening number, it was Timor Leste's turn to take the position. This time, through the execution of the perpetrator given by the referee because Alexandro Behkito was violated by Alexandro Felix Kamuru, but this export failed to bear fruit for Timor Leste.

After wasting the first golden opportunity, Timor Leste did not let time be wasted. Two minutes later, Timor Leste returned Indonesia's 1-1 advantage after Ricardo Rorinho's shot outwitted Ikhram Al Ghiffari under the crossbar.

The game got hotter when a draw was created. For the Garuda Muda camp, this situation actually burned enthusiasm, this can be seen from the increasingly pressing movement and even opening up opportunities for the host to double the position to 2-1.

The second score for the Garuda Muda squad this time was a brace contributed by Jens Ravens. As if he kept his promise to Indra Sjafri, Ravens listed his name in the 26th minute, this time after receiving another pass from Rizky's Kafiatur.

It was not enough with two points, after normal time the first half was over, the Idonesia U-19 national team again beat Timor Leste's goal net. The position became 3-1 in injury time after Figo Denis threw a curling kick that had hit the opposing goalkeeper and instead emptied into the net. The superior score of the Indonesian U-19 national team lasted until halftime.

Continuing the match in the second half, the difference in two goals became a challenge for Timor Leste if they wanted to equalize. At the beginning of this second half, Indra Sjafri made changes by including three substitutes at once, namely Meshaal Hamzah, Arkhan Kaka and Toni Firmansya.

After the player's role, Timor Leste's movement was getting narrower because instead of reducing the distance, they fell behind again. This time, the Indonesian national team again scored in the 51st minute and made the score 4-1 through the captain, Kadek Arel.

In this second half, the performance of Indra Sjafri's team was really crazy. The score kept changing on the board with only such a short time, now it's Arkhan Kaka's turn to make the figure 5-1 in the 53rd minute or only two minutes later.

Just scored the fifth point, Timor Leste was not given a gap in breathing by the Garuda Squad. Because only the difference of four minutes and a half goals now belongs to Indonesia, this time Rizky's Kafiatur donation in the 57th minute and brought the team 6-1.

After a long struggle, Timor Leste was finally able to increase the advantage before normal time ended. The score changed to 2-6 because the opposing team added points through Alexandro Bakhito, but that figure became the final score of the match because until the long whistle in the five minutes of injury time there was no increase.