GBK Roared: The Night Indonesia Beat Thailand 4-2 on Penalties

Indonesia Ends 35 Years of Waiting

At 11:30 PM, Gelora Bung Karno was emptying. 80,000 people had just screamed themselves hoarse as Indonesia beat Thailand 4-2 on penalties. I stayed on my bench. I needed to understand why a regional final felt bigger than a World Cup.

Indonesia has 280 million people, and most of them love football. For 35 years, we waited for the ASEAN Cup. For 35 years, we were mocked as the runner-up specialist. That curse ended last night.

It took a long journey. PSSI replaced coaches many times—Shin Tae-yong from Korea, then Patrick Kluivert from Holland, until finally John Herdman from England brought us the crown.

Behind it was Erick Thohir, the minister and owner of Oxford United and former owner of Inter Milan. His plan was simple: call back our diaspora. Players with Indonesian blood from their ancestors came home through naturalization. Critics said we were dominated by Europeans. Malaysians mocked us. It wasn't true. They love Indonesia, and Indonesia loves football.

This year, FIFA appointed Indonesia as host, but with a new system. The ASEAN countries were divided into divisions. Division 1: Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Pakistan, Bangladesh, the Philippines, and Vietnam. Hosted in Indonesia. Division 2: Hong Kong, Laos, Brunei, Cambodia, Timor-Leste, Myanmar. Hosted in Hong Kong.

Australia is now part of ASEAN football, but they chose not to participate to equalize the competition—their FIFA ranking is far above the rest.

The road to the final was crazy. In Division 1, Malaysia held Indonesia to a draw. Then on October 2nd in Bandung, Malaysia destroyed Singapore 6-0. We looked blocked from the final.

Then came the miracle. Indonesia beat Bangladesh 9-2. An unbelievable score. On aggregate goals, we overtook Malaysia. Harimau Malaya went home. So it was Indonesia vs Thailand in the final — the ultimate proof of who is king in the region.

I watched it live at GBK on October 5th. The vibe was not ASEAN; it was the World Cup. Tickets sold out days before. People came from Jakarta, Bandung, and all over Java. Some who came late couldn't even enter. President Prabowo sat beside FIFA President Gianni Infantino in the VIP tribune. More than 80,000 were inside; millions more watched on TV and YouTube.

At 7:30 PM, Anggun C. Sasmi opened the ceremony. At 8 PM, the ball rolled. From kick-off, the tension was suffocating. We started carefully. Then Indonesia scored. GBK exploded. Minutes later, Thailand equalized. Silence. Then a Thai defender lost his temper—red card. Thailand down to 10 men.

We should have won easily. Instead, disaster. Thailand counter-attacked and scored. 1-2 for Thailand, against 10 men, in Jakarta. Garuda behind the White Elephants. It was embarrassing.

President Prabowo, Erick Thohir,
and President FIFA Gianni Infantino at the Tribune 

In the last minutes, Herdman gambled. Two fresh players in. Thailand did the same, parking the bus with total defense. Garuda pressed. 65% possession but no goal. Until—in the dying minutes—we equalized 2-2. The stadium shook. 90 minutes over. Extra time, 2x15 minutes. Same story. Thailand defended with everything. 

So it went to penalties. Sudden death. Supporters held their breath. Indonesia 4-2 on penalties. The roar was something I will never forget. Prabowo and his ministers jumped up, hands in the air. The 35-year curse was finally broken.

By 11:30 PM, everyone was leaving, but I stayed. Both coaches last night—John Herdman and Thailand's Anthony Hudson—are English. Herdman from Consett, Hudson from London. Same school, same tactics. At the end, penalties are just luck. And luck was ours.

I got home at 1:30 AM and rewatched it online. FIFA's website was flooded. Sports channels worldwide were analyzing an ASEAN final. Why? Because 280 million people feeling the same emotion at the same time is powerful. That collective catharsis spreads fast.

Now a bigger challenge awaits: the World Cup. Asia has monsters—Japan, Australia, Iran, South Korea, and Saudi Arabia. On FIFA rankings, they will beat us easily. But football has its own ways. There are always miracles on the field. This dream team is on fire. Nothing is impossible if they keep fighting, keep improving, and keep believing. We still have months to prepare. Go ahead, Garuda! Give us more pride. The time is on your side now!

1-1 Heartbreak: How Singapore Knocked Indonesia Out in Jalan Besar Chaos

Indonesia's national team drew 1-1 with Singapore and crashed out of the semifinals. From VAR drama to a last-gasp equalizer, here’s the full chaotic story.

                                             Written by: Kang Ogenk

Even when we lose, we still love the national team. But that motivational line feels empty now. Failed again. Even with a squad full of naturalized players. What can you do? This is football. John Herdman’s team: total failure. Read the story while sipping your kopdud, ki aki !!! (coffee + cigarette, old man)

Jalan Besar Stadium was no longer a stadium. It had turned into a duel arena between two nations who had both lost their sanity. Garuda came with one mission: must win. Singapore only needed a draw. Simple? No. This is football, where logic often gets kicked farther than the ball.

First Half  

Garuda went on the attack immediately. At home, fans had already prepared coffee and fried bananas, plus a backup heart. After just a few minutes, Mitchell Lee Baker almost scored past Mohamad Izwan bin Mahbud, but a Singapore defender cleared it. The Indonesian fans screamed so loud the Merlion statue nearly migrated to Batam.

In the 20th minute, Baker was taken down in the penalty box. Should’ve been a penalty, but referee Al-Amouri from Oman didn’t budge. Fans yelled, “That’s a penalty. Are you blind?!” They called for VAR. The referee’s ears were apparently on airplane mode.

Indonesia vs Singapore:
Playout entertaining
1-1 draw.   
Photo: The Jakarta Post

23rd minute, Cahya Supriadi made a brilliant save. Fans clapped so hard their coffee cups shook. Singapore kept attacking, but the wall of Dony Pamungkas, Rizky Ridho, Shayne Pattynama, and Wahyu Prasetyo held firm like barbed wire.

In the 29th minute, Baker was brought down in the box again. The whistle stayed silent. Fans got hotter. “The ref’s been bribed!”  

34th minute, Thom Haye got a free kick, but the ball went wide. Fans who had stood up had to sit back down with the face of someone who just lost their Wi-Fi password.

43rd minute, Song made a hard tackle and got a yellow. “Go play tarkam!” fans shouted.  

45th minute, Ivar Jenner’s shot was blocked for a corner. The first half ended 0-0. Singapore smiled slightly. Indonesians started biting their nails.

In the locker room, John Herdman suddenly turned into Mario Teguh. “You guys are amazing. You’d be even more amazing if you won. Come on, boys!”  

In the Singapore camp, Gavin Lee gave a sermon: “We only need a draw. Don’t get careless.”

Second Half  

Indonesia vs. Singapore: drew 1-1

The coffee wasn’t even finished when, in the 47th minute, Ragnar Oratmangoen—aka Wak Haji—after a team-up with Thom Haye and Jenner, smashed it into the net. Goooal!

The archipelago exploded. Fans jumped so hard gravity considered resigning. Some hugged the TV, kissed the flag, and screamed until aliens in orbit thought Earth was under attack. A NASA satellite spying on Xi Jinping even stopped moving. “Wait, what’s this?”

Corrupt prisoners yelled from behind bars too. Their nationalism was no less than a masked mass organization.  

In Singapore, fans froze. Marina Bay Sands seemed to hold its breath.

58th minute, Ivar Jenner and Ui-Young Song got into a shoving match. Song was initially shown red and Jenner yellow. Then Al-Amouri stared at VAR for so long, like he was watching episode 147 of a soap opera. All cards were canceled. Indonesian fans erupted again, “Boooh!”

Then disaster struck. Chaos in front of Indonesia’s goal. A loose ball fell to Ilhan Fandi. One shot, and Cahya’s net was breached as the keeper fell. Singapore goal!

This time Singapore went wild. Their fans screamed like they’d just found a national treasure. The MRT probably went into shock. The Merlion roared all the way to Batam, while Indonesian fans instantly turned to statues. If the aliens were shocked before, now they were probably calling home: “Earth is crazier than our reports said.”

The match ended 1-1. Singapore is through to the semifinals. Garuda collapsed.  

Indonesian fans went home carrying disappointment…

Sad, ki aki.

🙏🏻 That’s it 🤣