Indonesia secured a crucial 1-0 victory over Bahrain in the third round of Asian World Cup 2026 qualifying. This win keeps the Indonesian team’s hopes of reaching the World Cup finals alive, though significant challenges remain.
The match took place at the Bung Karno Stadium in Indonesia. Facing immense pressure following their loss to Australia, Indonesia displayed strong determination and a fighting spirit. Coach Patrick Kluivert’s team played an aggressive attacking style, controlling 70% of the ball in the first half and creating numerous dangerous opportunities in front of Bahrain’s goal.
In the 25th minute, the Indonesian forward, Ole Romeny, capitalized on a quick passing play to score the match’s only goal, securing victory for the home team.
Following the goal, Indonesia maintained its dominant attacking presence, making it difficult for Bahrain to mount an offensive. However, the second half saw Bahrain gain more control as Indonesia consciously slowed down the pace of the game. Despite this, the Indonesian team created some notable scoring opportunities, but strikers Marselino Ferdinan and Eliano Reijnders were unable to convert them.
The match concluded with a 1-0 victory for Indonesia. This result propelled Indonesia to fourth place in Group C with 9 points. While they remain 4 points behind Australia in second place, Indonesia’s hopes of advancing deep into World Cup qualifying remain.
Indonesia’s determination and effort in defeating Bahrain have kept their hopes of a World Cup 2026 appearance alive. However, the path forward remains challenging and demands continued hard work from the entire team.
