ShareKUWAIT: Indonesia got off to a winning start by defeating the AFC Asian Cup 2023 Qualifiers Group A hosts Kuwait 2-1 at Jaber International Stadium on Wednesday. The home side started brightly and came within a whisker of opening the scoring inside five minutes when midfielder Omar Al-Hebaitir took possession of a loose clearance 30 yards out and curled an effort, but watched the ball just brush the top of the netting.
Indonesia responded in a similar fashion in the 18th minute, and it was a series of quick, intricate passes that ended with Marc Klok attempting an effort from outside the box that was deflected off a Kuwaiti defender and just wide off target. Goalkeeper Nadeo Argawinata was called into action for the first time in the 26th minute as veteran Bader Al-Mutawa fed Eid Al-Rashidi on the edge of the penalty area and the Kuwaiti midfielder controlled and hit a powerful left-footed effort that forced a diving save from the Indonesian keeper to keep the scores level.
Saddil Ramdani came within inches of scoring a wonder goal after dancing his way through the Kuwaiti defense into the box and looking to beat goalkeeper Hussain Kankone at his near post, but his finish just lacked accuracy, hitting the wrong side of the netting instead. The goal arrived at the other end a minute later and it was striker Youssef Nasser who opened the scoring, rising unopposed to head home Mutawa’s chipped cross from the right. The lead lasted mere seconds before a quick counterattack saw Rachmat Irianto break through on goal, before he was brought down by goalkeeper Kankone, prompting the referee to point to the spot and book the Kuwaiti keeper.
On his competitive debut for Indonesia, Dutch-born Klok stepped up and powered home the equalizer from the resulting penalty. Coach Shin Tae-yong’s men picked-up right where they left-off after the restart and within two minutes, they had taken the lead for the first time on the night through Irianto. Substitute Witan Sulaeman had taken advantage of a defensive mix-up to take possession of the ball inside the box, but his initial effort was blocked and fell into the path of Irianto who drilled home Indonesia’s second.
Having scored a brace against Indonesia when the two sides last met in Kuwait 13 years ago, Al Mutawa was denied an instant equalizer after his drilled shot from 25 yards out just clipped the outside of the upright. Vitezslav Lavicka’s side pushed on in an attempt to draw level as the Czech manager made several changes, one of whom, Ahmad Al Dhefiri looked to take matters into his own hands, going on a jinking run from the right and rifling an effort, but was unable to direct it within the frame of the goal.
At the other end Sulaeman wasted a glorious chance to settle the game when he broke free on the counter and with the goal at his mercy, curled one with his left but it sailed wide. Kuwait will look to bounce back when they face Nepal on Saturday while Indonesia face Jordan in their next game on the same day.
