RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - The Indonesian U17 National Team’s journey in the 2026 AFC U17 Asian Cup hit a significant roadblock on Sunday morning, May 10, 2026, as they suffered a 0-2 defeat to Qatar at the King Abdullah Sport City Stadium, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Despite a dominant first-half performance, the Indonesian team was undone by defensive lapses and a lack of clinical finishing.

Indonesia began the match with aggressive ball control, relentlessly pressuring the Qatari defense. The first half was defined by missed opportunities, beginning in the 15th minute when Noha Oliver nearly opened the scoring with a free kick that was narrowly deflected by the defense.

This was quickly followed by a moment of penalty heartbreak in the 16th minute, when a foul by Taha Nassir gifted Indonesia a spot-kick; however, Mathew Baker’s powerful shot was denied by Qatari goalkeeper Mohamed Bakri, who guessed correctly and dived to his right for a spectacular save.

Despite this setback, Indonesia maintained a persistent siege on the goal, with dangerous efforts from Putu Ekayana in the 19th minute and Ichiro Akbar in the 38th minute both being thwarted by a disciplined Qatari backline, ultimately leading to a scoreless mirror result at halftime.

The second half saw a shift in momentum as Qatar adopted a more expansive attacking style. Indonesia ultimately paid a high price for disorganized defensive coordination.

Qatar took the lead in the 57th minute when Jad Hadi Khalil delivered a precise pass to Ayokunle Samuel Tokade, who fired a powerful strike to make the score 1-0. By the 66th minute, Qatar doubled their advantage through a brilliant individual effort by Dhiaeddine Larbi.

After receiving another pass from Khalil, Larbi maneuvered deep into the Indonesian area and curled a clinical shot into the corner of the net, placing it well beyond the reach of goalkeeper Mike Rajasa.

In the closing stages, Indonesia threw everything forward. Chico Yarangga nearly pulled one back in the 88th minute, but Bakri again proved impenetrable. In stoppage time, a curling effort from Miraj Sulaeman was also parried away.

Qatar was reduced to ten men in the final minutes after Amr Mohamed received a red card for a dangerous foul. However, the Indonesian team was unable to capitalize on the numerical advantage before the final whistle.

Indonesia must now prepare for a daunting final Group D fixture against Japan U17. The Japan team currently lead the group with six points following a 2-1 win over China.

Mathematically, Japan has already secured one foot in the knockout phase, meaning Indonesia faces a must-win scenario to keep their tournament hopes alive. ***