In the match which was witnessed by some 70 thousand spectators including President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, two goals for Bahrain were respectively made by Sayed Dhiya Saeed at the 45th minute and Ismaeel Abdullatif Ismaeel at the 72nd minute.
Actually, the national team which had been strengthened by Boaz Salossa since the beginning of the first round immediately struck at the opponent`s defense.
Following the 0-3 loss to Iran on September 2 in Tehran, the "must win" mission was directly applied by the national soccer team.
When the game had run only four minutes, Boaz Salossa who was fielded at the right side directly threatened Bahrain`s wicket guarded by its goalkeeper Sayed Mohamed. But his shot slightly deviated on the right opponent`s goal.
On the other hand, Bahrain`s team which was trained by coach Peter Taylor also launched fierce attacks and Bahrain`s attacks were always intercepted by Indonesian goalie Markus Haris Maulana.
However, through Muhamed Ali and Ismaeel Abdullatief, the Middle Eastern team continued to threaten the national team`s goalkeeper.
After losing 0-2, the home team tried to regain its footing. However, due to some supporters who kept setting off fireworks, the game was suspended for around 15 minutes.
The match supervisor of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) at the time ordered the referee to suspend the match at the 75th minute and also ordered the Bahrain players to come into the players locker room.
On their reaction, the Indonesian players and officials protested the match supervisor`s decision, but the supervisor maintained his decision to suspend the match.
On the occasion, the All-Indonesia Soccer Association (PSSI) chairman and Secretary General, Djohar Arifin Husin and Tri Goestoro respectively through loudspeakers tried to persuade the domestic soccer fans not to set the fireworks and firecrackers.
The setting of firecrackers and fireworks are strictly prohibited by the AFC. The violation against the regulation will face fines sanction of more than Rp 8.5 billion and the match without spectators will be given. However, the match finally resumed after 15 minute-suspension.
The game ended 0-2 when the South Korean referee blew the long whistle signaling the end of the game.
On September 2, Indonesia lost 0-3 (0-0) to Iran in the third round of the Pre-World Cup 2011 round in group E at Tehran`s Azadi Stadium. While Bahrain at the time played Qatar and their match ended in a 0-0 draw.
Meanwhile on early Wednesday, Qatar and Iran shared 1-1.
It was the second loss in the Pre-World Cup 2011 round in group E
after the national team was defeated 0-3 (0-0) to Iranian team.
Shortly after the Indonesian team lost to Bahrain, the senior
soccer team former coach Benny Dolo opined on Tuesday night that the national team must be thoroughly evaluated by listening inputs from various parties.
On the Tuesday night, the country`s team goal keeper Markus Horison cannot be blamed on the unexpected loss to Bahrain 0-2 (0-1) in the Pre-World Cup 2011 round in group E, Benny said.
"Markus cannot be blamed, because both goals were indeed the difficult ones. At the first goal, the ball touched the goalpost at first, while at the second goal Markus had to deal with one on one," said Benny when asked shortly after the game.
In addition, Benny also launched criticism on the team scheme and the wrong placement of players like Boaz Salossa who was placed as a right-winger.
Benny was of the view that Boaz role as a winger was less effective and there was an impression of coercion.
"Why Boaz should be imposed as a winger. He should stay in the middle. He already proved that in the AFF Cup team where he played very sharp and effective," Benny said criticizing the current national team coach.
Benny also highlighted the weakness of the team composition that is less clear, and it was seen since the try-out match against the Palestinians in Solo some time ago.
According to him, the national team coach had better to open old files when the team was taken care by former coach Alfred Riedl.
Benny disclosed "We have a clear form when playing in the AFF Cup team. Actually the composition of the AFF Cup team which should be improved, given that there are some players like Firman Utina who somewhat decreased after suffering from injury."
"There is a big question mark, what is happening with this current squad?" Benny said.
"Bahrain is actually not too be special, but they play effectively. I see how they play is a lot of imitating the Iranian players who did not give opportunity to the Indonesian players to control the ball too long," he said.
At the first round, the coach Wim Rijsbergen protested the goal, but referee Lee Min Hu still endorse the goal. The score 1-0 for Bahrain does not change until the first half ended.
However, Bahrain at the second round, launched quick counterattack. The Indonesian team`s goal was threatened by Bahrain players` hard kick.
The Indonesian team lineup, Markus Haris Maulana (goal keeper) M. Roby, Hamka Hamzah, M. Nasuha/Supardi, Benny Wahyudi, M. Ridwan, Firman Utina/Hariono, Ahmad Bustomi/Ferdinan Sinaga, Bambang Pamungkas, Christian Gonzales and Boas Salossa.
While Bahrain squad consisting of Sayed Mohamed Jaafar Sabt Abbas (goal keeper), Mohamed Husin Mohamed Hasan, Mohamed Abdurahman Mohamed Marzooq, Sayed Dhiya Saeed Ebrahim, Hamad Rakea Humood Alaezi, Ismaeel Abdullatif Ismaeel/Ahmed Ebrahim Mubarak Isa, Faouzi Mubarak Aaish/Mohmood Abdulrahman Mohamed, Abdulla Ismaeel Omar, Rashed Khalil Ebrahim Talha Alhooti, Husain Ali Hasan Ali Mohamed and Mohamed Ali Mohamed Tayeb Alalawi/Dawood Saad Salman Saad.
In the meantime, State Secretary Sudi Silalahi said all parties were disappointed with the part of Indonesia`s team supporters who set firecrackers and threw water bottles in the middle of the match.
"Overall we are disappointed," Sudi said shortly after President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono left the Bung Karno Main Stadium on Tuesday night, before the match came to an end.
Prior to the next match against Qatar in the upcoming October 2011, the Indonesian senior soccer team of course should overcome its weaknesses so as not to be defeated again.(*)B003/HAJM/S012
Reporter: Bustanuddin
Editor: Jafar M Sidik
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
