Historic Victory: Indonesian National Team Defeats Saudi Arabia for the First Time

Kapanlagi.com - The Indonesian National Team has just created a historic moment worth celebrating! In a match held on Tuesday night (19/11/2024) at the Gelora Bung Karno Main Stadium, the Garuda Squad managed to conquer Saudi Arabia with a score of 2-0. This is Indonesia's first victory over the Middle Eastern team in the history of encounters between the two teams.

Marselino Ferdinan shone as the star of the field by scoring both crucial goals, bringing Indonesia three valuable points in Group C of the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers in the Asian zone.

This victory is not only a source of pride for coach Shin Tae-yong and his team but also ends an unfortunate record where Indonesia had never won in 13 previous encounters against Saudi Arabia.

1. Record Broken

After 43 years of waiting, the Indonesian national team has finally made history by achieving their first victory against Saudi Arabia in their 14th match!

Since their first meeting in 1981, which ended in a 1-3 defeat, Indonesia has only managed to secure two draws from a total of 13 encounters, including heavy losses of 0-5 and 0-6 in 2003.

However, in this match, the Red and White squad successfully broke Saudi Arabia's dominance on the Asian stage, making Indonesia the first ASEAN team to conquer the football giant since 2008.

This victory not only erases a dark record but also becomes a historic moment that will be remembered by all football fans in the country.

2. Brilliant Performance by Marselino Ferdinan

Marselino Ferdinan delivered a brilliant performance in Indonesia's historic victory, stealing attention with his stunning two goals. In the 32nd minute, he opened the team’s lead with his first goal, and shortly after, in the 57th minute, he shook the opponent's net again with a spectacular action that closed the match with a score of 2-0.

At just 20 years old, Marselino has etched his name in history as the first Indonesian player to score two goals in a single match during the third round of World Cup Qualifiers.

Now, he joins the ranks of other great players like Thom Haye, Ragnar Oratmangoen, Rafael Struick, and Sandy Walsh who have also scored for Indonesia in this tournament.

3. Saudi Arabia's Dominance Broken by Indonesia's Efficiency

Despite Saudi Arabia dominating the game with 77 percent possession and launching 23 shots, Indonesia's resilience lies in their attacking effectiveness.

Out of 13 attempts, six shots were on target and two of them found the back of the net. In defense, the solid duo of Jay Idzes, Rizky Ridho, and Sandy Walsh managed to withstand the opponent's onslaught, while Maarten Paes shone with crucial saves.

"We knew they were superior on paper, but we played with all our hearts," said Marselino Ferdinan, emphasizing the fighting spirit of his team.

4. Big Step Towards the Next Round

The brilliant victory over Saudi Arabia has lifted the Indonesian National Team to third place in the temporary Group C standings, with a total of six points from six matches.

Now, Indonesia is just one point behind Australia in second place, while their goal difference is better than that of Saudi Arabia in fourth place.

With two matches remaining, Indonesia's chances of advancing to the next round are looking brighter. This achievement also reaffirms that Indonesia is the king of ASEAN football, surpassing the achievements of Vietnam and Thailand in World Cup Qualification history!

5. What does Indonesia's victory over Saudi Arabia mean in football history?

This glorious victory marks a historic moment for Indonesia, after 43 years of struggling against Saudi Arabia and finally breaking the streak of poor results that had overshadowed them.

Moreover, this achievement also represents a significant step in Indonesia's journey towards World Cup Qualification, marking the resurgence of the fighting spirit of our green field heroes.

6. Who is the player who contributed the most to this victory?

Marselino Ferdinan shone brightly as the hero of the team by scoring two important goals that changed the course of the match.

Equally vital, Maarten Paes demonstrated his resilience in goal, while the solid defense further strengthened their backline, making them the key to success in achieving victory.

7. Are Indonesia's chances of advancing to the next round wide open?

With this brilliant victory, Indonesia now occupies the third position in Group C, and the hope of advancing to the next round is wide open.

Everything depends on the results of the last two matches and the performance of other teams, adding tension and spirit to the journey of the Red and White team.

8. What makes this victory so special?

By ending the poor record against Saudi Arabia, this brilliant victory not only brings pride to Indonesia but also makes it the first ASEAN team to defeat Saudi Arabia since 2008.

This historic moment further solidifies Indonesia's position on the Asian football map, marking an important step in the journey of football in the homeland.

(kpl/rmt)