Jakarta – Gelora Bung Karno Stadium (GKB) witnessed something that will be remembered throughout the history of Indonesian football, Mareslino Ferdina, was able to break through the Saudi Arabian goal guarded by Ahmed Alkassar in the 32nd minute.
Actually, since the first minute, Indonesia had a chance through Marselino Ferdinan’s tap-in, but Marselini’s kick hit the goal and was thrown away by the Saudi Arabian defender.
This opportunity occurred after Rizky Ridho gave a cross to Marselino Ferdinan who appeared from the Garuda squad’s second line, but luck at that time was not on Indonesia’s side because Marselino Ferdinan’s kick hit the Saudi Arabian goal and was thrown out by the Saudi Arabian defense line.
The aggressiveness of Suad Garuda in the first half created many opportunities, again the Arab defender was able to save his team from conceding, opportunities were created again, when Sandy Walsh gave a cross that was blocked by the Saudi Arabian goalkeeper, Marselino’s header in the 5th minute was blocked and thrown away by the opposing defender. Rafael Struick’s shot in the 8th minute which was facing the Saudi Arabian goalkeeper was also thwarted by the Saudi Arabian goalkeeper with his feet and resulted in a corner kick for Indonesia.
In the 24th minute Justin Hubner committed a violation and after being checked by VAR, Hubner was given a yellow card by the referee.
In the 50th minute Calvin Verdonk received a perfect pass from Sandy Walsh, but hit the Saudi Arabian goal.
The one-nil advantage from Marselino Ferdinan’s kick lasted until the 45th + 8th minute of the first half in the continuation of the 2026 World Cup qualification for the Asian zone at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, Tuesday (11/19/2024).
Although Saudi Arabia had more ball possession than the Garuda Team, the team coached by Hervé Jean-Marie Roger Renard (a coach and former French footballer) failed to convert their header into a goal because it was blocked by Maarten Paes.
Marselino Ferdinan’s goal
The sterility of Saudi Arabia’s attackers wasted many opportunities that were created. So even though the Saudi Arabian Team had the ability to play high balls, none of them managed to break through Maarten Paes’ goal.
Even in the 60th minute. Indonesia managed to add to the winning score and at the same time made Maseselino Ferdinan successfully score a goal into Saudi Arabia’s goal for the second time.
The match was heated and there was an exchange of attacks between the Indonesian Team and the Saudi Arabian Team. Substitution by Shin Tae Yong occurred in the 68th minute, Thom Haye was replaced by Nathan Tjoe A-On and in the 79th minute Marselino was replaced by Arhan Pratama, while Sandy Walsh was replaced by Yacob Sayuri.
In the 90th minute, a red card was given to Justin Hubner who was provoked by an opposing player.
This is history for Indonesia, which in 12 matches against Saudi Arabia, the Indonesian National Team has only managed to score a victory this time. And even though the Saudi Arabian Team was able to control the match with 77 percent of the ball held by the Saudi Arabian Team, the Garuda Team was able to score 2 goals scored by Marselino Ferdinan.
In the midst of the busy schedule of the President of the Republic of Indonesia, Prabowo Subianto, during his working visit to Brazil, from the President of Indonesia’s Instagram account @prabowo, he pumped up his spirit by uploading a photo of clenching and raising his right hand while watching it via his cellphone
