Indonesia Defeats Bahrain 2-0 in Asian Cup Qualifiers Opener

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Powered by a rapid first-half scoring burst, the Indonesia U17 women's national team commenced its 2027 AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup qualification campaign in style, securing a clinical 2-0 win over Bahrain at the Bishan Stadium in Singapore on Monday, October 5, 2026.

Displaying high efficiency from the opening whistle, the squad coached by Satoru Mochizuki capitalized on crucial transitional momentum to settle the match within a swift two-minute window, Antara reported.

Forward Kesya Arabela Manisya Nian proved to be the decisive factor, netting goals in the 19th and 21st minutes.

That early two-goal cushion provided the necessary security for Garuda Pertiwi Muda, who successfully defended their lead through the remainder of the fixture to claim all three points in their Group B opener.

The result leaves Bahrain searching for answers after a tough start, while placing Indonesia in an advantageous position within the four-team group, which also features Saudi Arabia and hosts Singapore.

With only group winners guaranteed a direct ticket to the 2027 AFC U17 Women's Asian Cup finals -- scheduled for March 31 to April 17, 2027, in China as a qualifier for the FIFA U17 Women's World Cup in Morocco, maintaining consistency is paramount.

The opening victory serves as a crucial confidence booster ahead of two demanding fixtures. Indonesia will face Saudi Arabia on Thursday, October 8, before concluding its group-stage journey against Singapore on Sunday, October 11.

The current national squad's journey stems from a meticulous selection process overseen by the Indonesian Football Association (PSSI), following the Srikandi Merdeka Cup 2026 in Kudus, Central Java. Out of 46 players evaluated from the Garuda Pertiwi and Putri Nusantara teams, a final roster of 26 players was selected to fly the national flag in Singapore. ***