Jakarta: Teenager Jens Raven scored six goals as hosts Indonesia made a powerful start to the ASEAN U-23 Mandiri Cup™ 2025 with an 8-0 victory over Brunei at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium on Tuesday.
The 19-year-old opened the scoring after less than two minutes and had five goals before halt-time, as Arkhan Fikri and Muhammad Rayhan Hannan added one each to make it 7-0 at the interval.
Raven netted his sixth goal of the game in the 62nd minute to complete the scoring as the hosts eased to an emphatic victory in their first game of the tournament, which is a showcase for ASEAN football’s rising stars.
The result put Indonesia on top of Group A on goal difference, ahead of Philippines, who stunned Malaysia 2-0 in an earlier game with two goals by Otu Bisong Banatao. Indonesia and the Philippines will meet in the next round of Group A matches on Friday.
Raven was making his U-23 international debut and the big striker was quickly off the mark as he turned in Muhammad Rayhan Hannan’s cross for the opening goal after less than 120 seconds and slotted in his second in the ninth minute.
Arkhan Fikri sent a powerful drive past Brunei goalkeeper Hisyam Norihwan after 20 minutes and Raven then completed his hat-trick in the 31st minute when he ran on to a long ball over the top of the Brunei defence and hammered an emphatic finish into the roof of the net.
It was the first of four goals in a 10-minute spell for the hosts as Raven slotted in his fourth shortly afterwards and then despatched a penalty in the 41st minute, after Hannan had fired in an unstoppable right-footed effort from range for Indonesia’s sixth goal.
Indonesia made four changes at half-time but there was no let-up on their dominance in the second half as Raven got his sixth goal in the 62nd minute when he dinked an effort past Norihwan with the ball just crossing the line before the Brunei defence could get it clear.
Despite their constant pressure, Indonesia were unable to add a ninth goal but their excellent performance underlined their status as tournament favourites for the Mandiri Cup™ 2025.
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