Courtesy: The Jakarta Post


Indonesia Passes First Test in Vietnam Tourney

Indonesia opened the Asean Football Federations Futsal Championship on Monday, with a convincing 7-3 win over Malaysia in a Group A match at Phu To Stadium, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

Topas Pamungkas started Indonesia’s rout with a goal in the fifth minute.

Sayan Karmadi tacked a hat trick, Deny Handoyo earned a brace, and Amril Daulay completed the victory in the 40th minute.

Malaysia got its three points courtesy of a double from Safar and a lone goal from Addie.

Justinus Lhaksana’s squad, last year’s runner-up, now needs one more win to qualify for the semifinals.

The match between Burma and reigning champion Thailand, which are also in Group A, finished after press time.

Indonesia takes on Burma tonight.

“We’re very confident that we can defeat Burma because we have better players,” Indonesia team manager Yerico Umbas told the Indonesia Football Association Web site.

Justinus said the team would give its best against the Burmese because a loss would force Indonesia to beat mighty Thailand on Wednesday, a task that could prove too daunting.

“It’s not that we’re conceding to Thailand, but we have to admit that their team is still the best in Southeast Asia,” Justinus said.

Thailand, which has won all seven AFF Futsal Championships since the competition’s inaugural season in 2001, sent its under-21 squad to the tournament.

“The team may be young, but we’re still optimistic about our chances of winning,” Thailand spokeperson Korn Vongyai said, adding that the team was assembled just three weeks prior to the tournament.

Three teams make up Group B — Vietnam, East Timor and the Philippines.

Brunei Darussalam withdrew prior to the start of the tournament, because its football federation by-laws have yet to been approved by FIFA.

The two top teams from each group advance to the semifinals, scheduled for June 12.








Posted by Luca Ranocchiari --> luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com