Indonesia file an upset in opposition to Saudi Arabia with their first win within the group stage of the AFC World Cup qualifiers.
Indonesia have shocked Saudi Arabia with a 2-0 win in Jakarta in Group C of the Asian qualifiers for the FIFA 2026 World Cup.
A purpose in every half from Marselino Ferdinan, who performs for Oxford United in England’s second tier, nailed down a victory on Tuesday for the Southeast Asian nation, which final appeared on the World Cup in 1938 because the Dutch East Indies.
It was Indonesia’s first win within the historical past of their participation within the third spherical of qualification and strikes them stage on factors with their Arab opponents and China.
“I’m so happy with my group and the nation,” goalkeeper Maarten Paes stated. “Marselino scored two nice objectives, and we defended so properly. We knew that this was an essential sport, and to get a win, that offers us a lot confidence. It’s so shut in our group.”
The sport turned fractious late on with the house aspect diminished to 10 males when Justin Hubner was proven a second yellow card for an off-the-ball incident whereas Saudi Arabia rattled the bar by way of Mohamed Kanno.
“Indonesia deserved to win this sport,” Saudi coach Herve Renard stated. “We now have 4 video games left, and it is going to be powerful, however it is going to be powerful for everyone.”
Japan are inside touching distance of an eighth successive World Cup look after beating China 3-1 to place the group 10 factors clear on the prime of Group C.
The Samurai Blue have 16 factors from six video games with 4 to go in Group C. Saudi Arabia, Indonesia and China all have six factors, as does Australia, which might transfer three factors clear in second with a win at last-placed Bahrain on Tuesday.
Regardless of beating China 7-0 at residence in September, it took Japan 39 minutes to interrupt the impasse in Xiamen with a Koki Ogawa header. Ko Itakura added a second earlier than halftime.
Residence followers grew hopeful when Lin Liangming pulled a purpose again early within the second half, however Ogawa headed residence his second and Japan’s third quickly after.
In Group A, Uzbekistan took a giant step in the direction of a primary World Cup look after edging North Korea 1-0. The Uzbeks took the factors with a first-half strike from Abbosbek Fayzullaev though Jong Il Gwon missed a late penalty for the Koreans, who’re taking part in their residence video games in Laos.
The highest two from every of the three teams of six progress robotically to the World Cup whereas the six groups who end third and fourth will advance to the subsequent stage of qualification.
