Mitchell Baker scored five goals and Ole Romeny delivered three assists as Indonesia defeated Bangladesh 9-2 to reach the final of the FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026, sport.detik.com reported. The emphatic victory at the Stadion Utama Gelora Bung Karno in Jakarta secured the Garuda’s place at the top of Group A alongside Malaysia, who finished with identical points and goal difference but yielded the top spot on total goals scored.
Indonesia Reaches the Final After Nine-Goal Thriller Against Bangladesh
Indonesia advanced to the tournament’s championship match after finishing Group A level with Malaysia on seven points and a plus-nine goal differential, sport.detik.com reported. While Malaysia defeated Singapore 6-0 in their final group fixture, Indonesia’s 11 total goals scored across the group stage edged out Malaysia’s nine, earning the Garuda the decisive edge in scoring productivity. The high-scoring finale in Jakarta saw Mitchell Baker lead the offensive onslaught with five goals, while fellow forward Ole Romeny contributed three assists.
The fixture marked the first time Baker and Romeny played alongside each other, sport.detik.com reported. Both players secured their Indonesian citizenship earlier in 2026. The forward partnership showed early signs of friction during opening group matches against Singapore and Malaysia before culminating in the nine-goal performance against Bangladesh.
Baker and Romeny Fast-Track Partnership After Six Training Sessions
“I think it is also important to remember that this is the first time I have played with Ole. I had never played with him before this training camp, so we are still building that chemistry and I think that is crucial,” Mitchell Baker said after the match against Bangladesh, as reported by sport.detik.com. Head coach John Herdman confirmed that the two forwards have required time to establish rhythm, having completed only six training sessions together.
“So, as Mitchell just explained, the team is building chemistry. They have only had six training sessions together. Some of these players, as he said, are just starting to find their rhythm together,” Herdman told reporters, according to sport.detik.com.
Senior Squad Integrates Young Talent Under John Herdman
Head coach John Herdman said senior squad members must help teenage prospects like 19-year-old Luke Vickery and Mitchell Baker integrate into the team, Suara.com reported. Herdman noted that long-term development plans require senior players to guide newcomers through professional game management and tactical positioning against seasoned central defenders.
“Yes, I think a lot of people overlook that. There is a long-term integration process for a 19-year-old who is just starting his journey in football,” Herdman said, according to Suara.com. The squad’s senior leadership has actively assisted the younger arrivals with match awareness and movement patterns, RRI.co.id reported from Stadion PTIK in Jakarta.
“The senior players really embrace them because they can see the potential,” Herdman explained, as cited by Suara.com. Vickery, who completed his first professional season, brought added pace to the squad, addressing a noted deficit, Suara.com reported.
Bangladesh Exits Group A Without a Point
The decisive Group A fixtures concluded on Thursday, October 1, 2026, at Stadion Utama Gelora Bung Karno in Jakarta, with kickoff at 19:30 WIB, RRI.co.id reported. Bangladesh exited the tournament at the bottom of Group A without a point, having suffered a 3-0 defeat against Malaysia and a 1-0 loss to Singapore prior to facing Indonesia, according to RRI.co.id records.
