RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesian National Soccer Team coach John Herdman said his side’s victory matched the target set before the match, praising the players for executing the strategy effectively throughout the game.

“We set a target before the match to win by four goals and keep a clean sheet. We knew we had to push for it,” Herdman said after the game at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Senayan on Friday night, March 27, 2026.

The English coach emphasized the importance of set pieces, noting that discipline in defense and success in dead-ball situations were key to Indonesia’s dominance. “Not conceding is about discipline, and winning from set pieces is also important because we trained hard for that,” he said.

Herdman also commended his players' professionalism, who followed instructions well despite limited preparation time. He expressed pride in the team’s solid performance after only a few training sessions together.

“We wanted to give opportunities to players who had participated in training, and I think they played with great professionalism. This was our first time together, just a few sessions, but I’m very proud of them tonight,” he said.

He added that several goals came from transition play, which he described as crucial in modern international football. “Some goals came in transition, which I think is one of the most important aspects at the international level. I’m pleased with those elements today,” Herdman said.

The coach cautioned that the journey was only beginning, with a tough match against Bulgaria ahead. “This is just the start. We have a long journey, and we face a difficult game against Bulgaria,” said the former Canada national team coach.

Saint Kitts and Nevis head coach Marcelo Serrano said his team performed well in the opening stages, organizing play as planned before conceding. “In the first 15 minutes, we were very organized and strong. Our players understood the tactics,” Serrano said. He regretted missed chances early in the match that could have changed the outcome. “If we had scored in the first 15 minutes, the game might have been different,” he added.

Indonesia defeated Saint Kitts and Nevis 4-0 at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, with Beckham Putra scoring twice, and Ole Romeny and Mauro Zijlstra adding one goal each. The result secured Indonesia’s place in the FIFA Series 2026 final against Bulgaria, scheduled for Monday at 8 p.m. local time at the same venue. (Gusti Panji/Lasti Martina)