AFC
Doha: Australia coach Tony Vidmar is relishing his side’s meeting in Group A of the AFC U23 Asian Cup Qatar 2024™ with Indonesia on Thursday as the Olyroos look to back up their opening day draw against Jordan with their first three points of the campaign at Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium.
Vidmar is attempting to steer Australia to a second successive Olympic Games qualification and only the country’s third since joining the Asian Football Confederation in 2006, and victory over Shin Tae-yong’s side would take his team a step closer to the knockout rounds.
“We were happy to start off with a point in this tournament,” said Vidmar. “We look forward to playing Indonesia, which is going to be a really good game.
“Ten of their players were at the senior Asian Cup so that will be a real test. They were impressive at the senior Asian Cup in January. That’s what we’re here for, to be tested against good opposition, different types of football.
“It’s only going to make our players better for the experience.”
The Australians currently sit two points behind early Group A leaders Qatar after sharing the points with the Jordanians and the Olyroos are expected to once again be at full strength after reporting no initial injuries in the aftermath of their first game.
“It’s one point in the right direction,” captain Callum Talbot said after the draw, which was achieved despite Jordan playing out the closing stages with 10 men due to Danial Afaneh’s red card. “It’s a positive, a clean sheet and we move onto the next game.”
Indonesia, meanwhile, will be looking to bounce back from a demoralizing 2-0 loss to Qatar in their opener on Monday at Jassim bin Hamad Stadium, when goals from Khalid Ali and Ahmad Al Rawi earned the hosts all three points.
Shin’s hopes of taking the Indonesians into the next phase of the competition are further impacted by the unavailability of Ivar Jenner and Ramadhan Sananta, who were both sent off in the loss on Monday and will be serving suspensions as a result.
Jenner was dismissed moments into the second half for a second bookable offence following a challenge on Saif Eldeen Hassan while Sananta was given a straight red card for a foul on Mohammed Aiash deep into injury time at the end of the game.
Indonesia v Australia
Venue: Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium (Doha)
Kick-off: Thursday, 16:00 (UTC+3)