Saudi Gazette report

JAKARTA — Saudi Arabia, buoyed by a spirited display in their draw against Australia, will face Indonesia on Matchday 6 of the AFC Asian Qualifiers – Road to 26 Group C, determined to secure a vital victory.

The Green Falcons, under the leadership of returning head coach Hervé Renard, showcased dominance in possession against Australia but were unable to find a breakthrough.

Renard emphasized that his primary goal is securing qualification for the FIFA World Cup Finals, prioritizing results over performances.

“We knew before that we had these two very crucial games against Australia and Indonesia,” Renard said.

“We’ll have to be strong as well. My only focus is that we want to qualify for the World Cup. It’s not necessary to say we get a point here or three points there, as long as, at the end of the day, we are part of the draw for the Finals.”

Indonesia, meanwhile, is aiming to recover from consecutive defeats, including a 4-0 loss to Japan on home soil.

Shin Tae-yong’s side has struggled after a promising start to their campaign, which included draws against Saudi Arabia, Australia, and Bahrain.

Despite a challenging outing against Japan, Indonesia had their chances, most notably when Ragnar Oratmangoen missed an early opportunity in the goalless opening stages.

Adding to their woes, injuries to key players Kevin Diks and Asnawi Mangkualam could further complicate their prospects.