The Missing dream for the young garuda

Indonesian pre olympic 2012 team won’t be able to reach their dream of playing at the 2012 London olympic games, after defeated aggregately 4-1 by Turkmenistan. At the first leg at Jaka Baring Stadium, Palembang, South Sumatera, February 23th, Indonesia started the game with a good confident which was indicated by a high tempo showed by the team. At the beginning, the result was good, when a lucky back heel from Titus Bonai was deflected by the turkmenistan’s defender and outwitted the goal keeper so he failed to block the shot. But the equalizing goal came not too long after the goal, a foul outside the penalty area gave a set piece for Turkmenistan, and their captain didn’t miss the net.
At the second half Turkmenistan players were showing their higher class beyond the Indonesian, although Indonesia also had few nice chances to push the ball in to the net. Better technique and endurance were looking to give them not too long waiting to get the next goals. Two goals were created and they went back home in a good passion to face the second game at their home on Wednesday, March 9th. At the Olympic Ashgabat stadium, Turkmenistan team was supported by about 28 thousand spectators. Before flying to Ashgabat, Riedl realized that the opportunity to enter the next round was too small, so the team needed a miracle. Riedl didn’t expect too higly for his players to create the miracle. He just asked his player to fight for the nation’s honour and also set the game as an evaluation to select players who will compete in the next SEA Games at Jakarta this year.