Indonesian Soccer Team Qualifies for Semifinal After Beating Cambodia 2-0

Jakarta (Antara Bali) - The under-22 Indonesian soccer team, or Timnas U-22, qualified for the semifinals of the 29th South East Asian Games (SEA Games) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, after beating Cambodia 2-0 in group B.

The first goal was scored by Ezra Walian in the 55th minute, and the second was netted by Febri Hariyadi in 69th minute during the match, which was held in the Shah Alam stadium in Malaysia on Thursday afternoon (Aug 24).

The victory over Cambodia led the Timnas to the runner up of group B, with 11 points, according to the website of the All-Indonesia Football Association (PSSI).

Thailand, which won group B after crushing Vietnam 3-0, will meet Myanmar, the runner up of group A. In another match, Malaysia won group A.

Timnas U-22 will face the winner of Group A, the host Malaysia, in the semifinal on Saturday (Aug 26).

Vietnam, which had previously led the standings in group B, will be excluded from the SEA Games in 2017.

The Timnas that relies on the wings appeared to dominate the match from the first minute.

The first chance for Indonesias team came in the fourth minute when Osvaldo Haay got an opportunity with a header that was wide.

The Timnas got a chance through Saddil Ramdani in the 26th minute. But Saddils right leg shot was still wide of the Cambodian goalkeeper.

In the last minute of the first half, Cambodias player Choum Pisa received red card and was sent off.

In the second half, coach of the Timnas, Luis Milla, fielded Hariyadi to replace Osvaldo Haay.

Seeing his team get into trouble in scoring against Cambodia, which played with 10 players, Milla decided to field attacker Walian to replace Ricky Fajrin.

The result was that Indonesia could make the first goal in the 55th minute.

On the other hand, Hariyadi, was successful in the 69th minute to score from the long-range shot with his right foot. The score was changed 2-0 to benefit Indonesia.

The Timnas U-22 was placed in group B along with Thailand, the champions of SEA Games 2013 and 2015, and Vietnam, the 2015 SEA Games bronze medalist, as well as Cambodia, the Philippines, and Timor Leste.(WDY)