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!