Jakarta (BERITAPOLITIK.ONLINE) — In a tightly contested friendly match between the Indonesian U-20 national team and their Chinese counterparts, Ji Dan Bin emerged as the hero for Indonesia, scoring a crucial equalizer in the second half to secure a 1-1 draw. The match, held at Madya Stadium within the Gelora Bung Karno Complex in Jakarta on Monday, showcased spirited performances from both sides.
This encounter marked the second meeting between the U-20 teams of Indonesia and China within a span of three days. Previously, on Friday (March 22), the teams had battled to another 1-1 stalemate.
Despite China’s dominance in ball possession and consistent pressure on the Indonesian defense, the home team resiliently held their ground. Indonesia gradually found their rhythm and began to mount attacks of their own, with promising opportunities created by players like Figo Dennis.
Throughout the first half, neither side managed to break the deadlock, with both defenses holding firm. The score remained 0-0 heading into halftime.
The second half saw Indonesia growing more assertive, pressing China higher up the pitch. However, they struggled to convert their possession into clear-cut chances. Conversely, China found occasional openings on the counter but were thwarted by Indonesia’s defense and goalkeeper Fitrah Maulana.
However, Indonesia’s resistance was broken in the 85th minute when a momentary lapse allowed China to capitalize and take the lead through Zhong Wen’s goal.
Yet, the Indonesian team showcased their resilience and fighting spirit. In the dying moments of the game, Ji Da Bin stepped up, volleying home a dramatic equalizer in the 89th minute, much to the delight of the home crowd.
The match ended with both teams deadlocked at 1-1, reflecting the closely contested nature of the encounter.
Here’s the lineup for both teams:
Indonesia: Ikram Al Giffari, Dony Tri Pamungkas, Meeshal Hamzah Osman, Muhammad Mufli Hidayat, Figo Dennis, Rahmat Syawal, Sulthan Zaki, Welber Jardim, Arkhan Kaka, Muhammad Ragil, Muhammad Nabil
Coach: Indra Sjafri
China: Yuan Jianru, He Yiran, Liu Tiecheng, Peng Xiao, Fu Yuxuan, Mei Shuaijun, Yang Haoyu, Lu Junwei, Su Yuliang, Tang Rui, Xiahezhati Wujiahemaiti.
Coach: Dejan Djurdjevic.
The match served as valuable preparation for both teams ahead of upcoming tournaments, highlighting the talent and potential within the U-20 setups of both Indonesia and China.
