Indonesia to Face Guinea in the 2024 Paris Olympics Playoffs
- PSSI
Jakarta – Indonesia has defeated by Iraq 1-2 in the match for third place playoff in the 2024 U-23 Asian Cup at the Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium, Doha, Qatar on Thursday (May 2).
Things were initially looking positive for the Indonesians - who had already exceeded all expectations in getting this far in their tournament debut - as they took the lead in the 19th minute.
After a short corner routine was cleared only as far as the edge of the box, Ivar Jenner let fly with a powerful low drive from 25 yards that opposition goalkeeper Hussein Hassan was unable to keep out at his near post despite getting a hand to it.
Indonesia U-23 vs Irak U-23
- PSSI
But eight minutes later, Iraq responded when Indonesia custodian Ernando Ari failed to adequately deal with a set-piece and sent the ball looping dangerously inside the area, where Nihad Mohammad would climb highest and nod a header towards the line for Zaid Tahseen to glance home from a yard out.
With neither side able to find a winner inside the 90 minutes, the game then went to extra time, where it was Iraq's talismanic playmaker Ali Jassim who would emerge as the match-winner, capitalising on a crucial error in judgement from Indonesia's stand-in captain Justin Hubner to race through and finish past Ernando into the bottom corner.
The result means Iraq will join Japan and Uzbekistan - who face off in Friday's final - as Asia's confirmed representatives at the Olympics.
The Red and White must postpone the certainty of qualifying for the 2024 Olympics. They will fight again against the African representatives, Guinea U-23 on May 9 2024.
7 Insiden Keramaian yang Telan Banyak Korban Jiwa, Ada Bentrok di Guinea dan Tragedi Kanjuruhan
Sebanyak 56 orang meninggal dunia akibat bentrok suporter di Guinea. Ini terjadi dalam final turnamen sepakbola di Nzerekore, Guinea tenggara
