Indonesia beat Singapore 2-0 as Yusuf Kurniawan criticises play

Timnas Indonesia secured a 2–0 victory over Singapore in their opening Group A match of the FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026 at Stadion Utama Gelora Bung Karno in Jakarta on Friday, September 25, 2026, though football analyst Yusuf Kurniawan later voiced dissatisfaction with the team’s build-up play and finishing. Ragnar Oratmangoen opened the scoring in the 13th minute before Ole Romeny converted a second-half penalty to seal the result, which places the Garuda second in the Group A standings behind Malaysia on goal difference.

Stadion Utama Gelora Bung Karno Host Opener

The fixture marked an important opening step for Indonesia in the tournament, avenging previous setbacks against Singapore in regional competitions. In the early stages, debutant Luke Vickery provided the assist for Oratmangoen’s 13th-minute opener, as reported by suara.com. The attacking midfielder, who previously represented Australia at the U-19 level during the 2024 AFF U-19 Championship hosted in Indonesia, made his first senior appearance for the Garuda after completing his naturalization process.

Indonesia maintained pressure through the first half, though head coach John Herdman deployed a starting lineup featuring minimal representation from domestic leagues. Bolasport.com noted that no starters were developed by Indonesian clubs, with Ragnar Oratmangoen of Persib being the sole Super League-affiliated player in the initial eleven due to his extensive European background. Late in the match, Herdman introduced domestic products Rayhan Hannan in the 75th minute and Rizky Ridho in the 79th minute, both representing Persija Jakarta.

Tactical Gaps and Finishing Deficits Highlighted

Despite the two-goal margin, Yusuf Kurniawan pointed out persistent structural issues during an interview at the stadium tribunes. He argued that the team’s link-up play remained disjointed, citing a significant gap between the midfield and forward lines that left striker Ole Romeny isolated for long stretches.

“The score or result is quite good, frankly, but in terms of play, I am not satisfied,” Yusuf stated, as reported by bola.kompas.com. “This is not the expectation we want because there are many holes that need to be fixed.” Yusuf specifically noted that several scoring chances were wasted due to a lack of chemistry in the final third and criticized the effectiveness of wide attacks that failed to yield productive end products.

Red Card and Second-Half Penalty Seal Result

The contest turned decisively in the second half when Singapore was reduced to ten men. In the 71st minute, defender Safuwan Baharudin received a straight red card from referee Rustam Lutfullin following a VAR review for a foul on Mitchell Baker just outside the penalty area. From the resulting free kick taken by Thom Haye, Indonesia earned a penalty kick when a Singaporean defender handled a shot intended to block the effort. Ole Romeny stepped up to convert from the spot, scoring his third goal in as many appearances at the Gelora Bung Karno venue.

Indonesia Trails Malaysia in Group A Standings

Following the conclusion of the opening matchday, detikcom reported that Indonesia occupies second place in Group A with three points, trailing table leaders Malaysia on goal difference after Malaysia defeated Bangladesh 3–0. The tournament format dictates that group winners advance directly to the final, while the runners-up contest the third-place playoff. Indonesia prepares to face Malaysia in its next Group A fixture, with analysts emphasizing the need to tighten midfield communication and improve attacking efficiency before that encounter.