* Goal: Hwang Do-yoon 6’

Going into the final match, Indonesia sat second in Group J with 4 points, two behind South Korea. A win was essential to top the group and secure a place in the finals. A draw would leave them with 5 points, not enough to secure a spot among the four best second-placed teams, as four other teams already had 6 points after the first two matches.

The Indonesian players took to the field wearing black armbands to mourn a fan who died while attending Indonesia's friendly match against Lebanon the previous day. Home advantage and the support of the crowd fueled coach Gerald Vanenburg’s team's initial enthusiasm.

Indonesia (in white) lost 0-1 to South Korea (in red) in the final match of Group J of the 2026 U23 Asian Cup qualifiers at Gelora Delta Stadium, Indonesia on 9/9/2025. Photo: Kompas

Indonesia (in white) lost 0-1 to South Korea (in red) in the final match of Group J of the 2026 U23 Asian Cup qualifiers at Gelora Delta Stadium, Indonesia on 9/9/2025. Photo: Kompas

Indonesia nearly scored in the opening minute. Rayhan Hannan broke through on the right wing and crossed into the box, but no teammate was there to connect.

Five minutes later, South Korea opened the scoring with a quick passing move from the left flank. Hwang Do-yoon controlled the ball and fired a shot inside the near post.

Indonesia responded with increased attacking pressure and came close to equalizing. In the 24th minute, Caraka capitalized on a defensive error but shot wide. Towards the end of the first half, center-back Kadek Arel and forward Rahmat Arjuna both had headed chances but missed the target.

In the second half, South Korea controlled possession more effectively and managed to subdue the home side’s energy. Coach Vanenburg brought on 20-year-old forward Jens Raven and defender Robi Darwis, known for his long throw-ins, but neither could make a significant impact.

The home side’s best player in the second half was goalkeeper Cahya Supriadi with three crucial saves. He denied Lee Seung-won's long-range shot in the 47th minute, Park Hyun-bin's effort in the 70th minute, and Kang Seong-jin's close-range strike in the 79th minute.

In the closing stages, Indonesia dominated possession but lacked finishing. South Korea, meanwhile, slowed the game down, with players going down easily to run down the clock, further frustrating the home side. Five minutes of added time were not enough for Indonesia to find an equalizer.

At the final whistle, the disappointed Indonesian players sank to the ground. The camera panned to the stands, showing Football Association of Indonesia (FAI) chairman Erick Thohir shaking hands before quickly heading inside. The 0-0 draw against Laos in the opening match proved costly.

South Korea avenged their defeat to Indonesia in the 2024 tournament, where they lost on penalties in the quarterfinals. They eliminated the Indonesian team, who had finished fourth in the previous tournament and were close to securing an Olympic spot, in the qualifying stages.

Starting lineups:

U23 Indonesia: Cahya Supriadi, Mikael Tata, Kadek Arel, Dion Markx, Dony Tri Pamungkas, Rayhan Hannan, Arkhan Fikri, Zanadin Faris, Rahmat Arjuna, Hokky Caraka, Rafael Struick

U23 South Korea: Moon Hyun-ho; Kang Min-jun, Choi Woo-jin, Choi Seok-hyun, Lee Hyun-yong, Kim Ji-soo; Hwang Do-yoon, Jung Ji-hun, Lee Seung-won, Park Seung-ho, Jeong Jae-sang.

Hieu Luong