October 12, 2025 | 07:36 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian national football team’s hopes of advancing to the final round of the 2026 World Cup Asian Qualifiers came to an end after a narrow 0–1 loss to Iraq in their second Group B match.
Yet, despite the defeat, football observer Kesit Budi Handoyo believes there were signs of real progress compared to the team’s earlier 2–3 loss to Saudi Arabia.
A Better Start, but No Goals
The match, held early Sunday morning WIB, October 12, 2025, at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah, showed that Indonesia had learned from their mistakes in the opening fixture. Under Patrick Kluivert, the Garuda squad pressed higher and built attacks more effectively.
In the first half, Jay Idzes and his teammates created several scoring chances, while Iraq appeared off balance and struggled to organize their play. The problem, however, was Indonesia’s inability to finish. Promising moves often broke down in the final third, leaving the scoreline unchanged.
Iraq’s Second-Half Response
After the break, Iraq adapted. The Mesopotamian Lions increased their attacking tempo and started winning duels in midfield. Their persistence paid off in the 76th minute when Zidane Iqbal found space inside the penalty box and slotted home the winning goal.
Kesit observed that the goal came from a lapse in Indonesia’s defensive concentration. “If our defenders had been more alert, especially in tracking Iqbal, the goal could have been avoided,” he said.
Key Issue: Ineffective Front Line
Kesit emphasized that Indonesia’s biggest weakness remains their lack of cutting edge up front. “It was much better against Iraq,” he said, “but our problem again lies in the front line.”
He pointed to Mauro Zijlstra, the 20-year-old FC Volendam striker who started the match but failed to threaten Iraq’s goalkeeper Jalal Hassan Hachem.
The young forward, who recently completed his naturalization process, is still adjusting to the rhythm of international competition.
“He’s only played a few times for the national team, so it’s a matter of experience and time,” Kesit noted.
Zijlstra’s replacement, Ole Romeny of Oxford United, was brought on midway through the second half to add fresh energy. However, the change did little to alter the outcome, as Indonesia continued to struggle in front of goal.
Iraq’s Defensive Discipline
While Indonesia’s forwards lacked sharpness, Iraq’s defensive discipline was another major factor behind the result. Kesit explained that Iraq shifted to a more compact formation once they recognized Indonesia’s attacking intent.
“They played very organized and disciplined, closing down dangerous spaces effectively,” he said.
This defensive setup frustrated Indonesia, whose players began to lose composure after failing to convert several chances.
“They started solidly, especially in defense and midfield, but the longer they couldn’t score, the frustration became visible,” Kesit added.
The defeat marked Indonesia’s second straight loss in Group B, following their earlier 2–3 defeat to Saudi Arabia at the same venue. The result leaves Indonesia at the bottom of the standings with zero points, officially eliminating them from contention for the next qualification stage.
Despite the outcome, Kesit highlighted the team’s tactical improvement. Indonesia managed longer spells of possession and created more structured attacks compared to the Saudi Arabia match.
The main takeaway, he said, is that finishing and mental resilience must improve if the Garuda squad hopes to compete at Asia’s top level.
“There’s progress, but we’re not yet clinical enough. The frustration and lack of composure after missed chances still hurt us,” Kesit concluded.
With qualification hopes over, Kluivert’s side will likely focus on rebuilding the team’s confidence and sharpening their attack for upcoming competitions. Meanwhile, Iraq and Saudi Arabia remain in contention for the top position in Group B and a place in the 2026 World Cup.
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