(PHNOM PENH) Indonesia emerged victorious in a high-intensity football match against Thailand at the Southeast Asian Games on Tuesday (May 16), securing a first-place finish with a thrilling 5-2 victory in extra time. The game, marred by intense emotions, witnessed four players being sent off, two brawls, and a total of seven goals.
The match held significant importance for Indonesia as it presented an opportunity to restore national pride to a footballing scene that had recently been overshadowed by a tragic stadium incident and the loss of hosting rights for the Under-20 World Cup. Their triumph not only achieved that objective but also marked their first gold medal in men’s football since the SEA Games transitioned into an under-23 competition.
The 120-minute encounter at the Olympic Stadium was a roller-coaster ride of drama. Indonesia took an early 2-0 lead just before halftime, with Muhammad Ramadhan scoring his second goal amid controversial circumstances. The Thai players expressed their discontent, arguing that the ball was not contested at the time as it had been passed back by Indonesia after a stoppage. However, their protests fell on deaf ears as the referee and opponents dismissed their claims, further fueling the frustration of the War Elephants.
In the second half, Thailand launched a spirited comeback and managed to reduce the deficit through Anan Yodsangwal’s headed goal just after the hour mark. Despite their efforts, Indonesia resorted to gamesmanship and time-wasting tactics, frustrating their opponents. Nevertheless, the thousands of passionate Indonesian fans among the 28,000 spectators remained unwavering in their support, eagerly anticipating a redemptive victory.
As the match approached its climax, a moment of confusion ensued when the referee blew his whistle for a Thai free kick deep into stoppage time. Misinterpreting it as the final whistle, several members of Indonesia’s coaching staff rushed onto the pitch to celebrate prematurely. Once the misunderstanding was clarified, Thailand took the free kick, and Yotsakon Burapha brilliantly created space before unleashing a stunning equalizer in the 97th minute, forcing the game into extra time.
This dramatic turn of events reignited the ire of the Thai players and staff, who charged towards their opponents’ bench in a gloating celebration, triggering the first brawl of the match. The situation escalated further during the restart of play when Indonesia’s Irfan Jauhari swiftly scored, giving his team a 3-2 lead. Tempers flared, resulting in kicks and punches being exchanged, and uniformed security officials had to intervene to restore order. Thailand’s goalkeeper, Soponwit Rakyart, was shown a red card for charging half the length of the pitch to deliver a diving punch to an opponent.
Amidst the chaos, Indonesia’s Komang Teguh Trisnanda and a member of the Thai coaching staff were also sent off, forcing them to retreat to the changing rooms. The referee orchestrated a sideline peace summit between both coaches to calm the situation. Once the game resumed its normal flow, Indonesia seized control, scoring goals through Fajar Rahman and the talented 21-year-old Beckham Putra.
Thailand’s Jonathan Khemdee and Teerasak Poeiphimai received second yellow cards, reducing their team to eight players against Indonesia’s ten. In the end, Indonesia emerged as deserving victors. Following the match, head coach Indra Syafri expressed his hope that this success would serve as a wake-up call for Indonesian football.
