Indonesia Still Has Chance to Qualify Olympics After Defeated by Uzbekistan
- PSSI
Qatar – The Indonesian U-23 National Team defeated to Uzbekistan in the semifinals of the 2024 U-23 Asian Cup at the Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium, Doha, Qatar on Monday. However, Indonesia still has a chance to qualify for the Olympics.
After losing to Uzbekistan, the opportunity for Indonesia to win the U-23 Asian Cup title has been closed. But, the opportunity to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics is still open.
The Red and White can still qualify for the Games in Paris if they win a third-place playoff match against either Japan or Iraq later this week.
In the event they lose and finish fourth, they must beat Guinea in an Asian-African playoff match.
Indonesia U-23 vs Uzbekistan U-23
- AFC
Indonesian team showed spirit when facing Uzbekistan. Even though the rival put more pressure, Indonesia can defend it well.
An interesting thing happened in the second half, in the 60th minute Indonesia had a chance to lead the score through Muhammad Ferarri's flick in the penalty box after goalkeeper Ne 'Matov made an error in anticipation of the ball.
The controversy occurred when the referee who saw VAR declared Ferari's goal invalid after Ramadan Sananta's position was declared off side before Arhan Pratama made a pull pass.
Then, the Uzbekistan national team attacked Indonesia's defense with Husain Norchaev who managed to score a goal after using a pass from Hamraliev on the right.
A second goal was won by Uzbekistan through Arhan Pratama's own goal which failed to clear the ball in front of goal.
Until the match ended, Indonesia was still 0-2 behind Uzbekistan and failed to advance to the U-23 Asian Cup final.
If Indonesia had won, they would have played football at an Olympics for the first time in nearly seven decades, since the Soviet Union eliminated them from the 1956 Games in Melbourne.
