The September international window drew to a close this week with several ASEAN sides in action ahead of the ASEAN Mitsubishi Electric Cup™ later this year.
Indonesia began their FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers third round campaign on a positive note while Brunei DS and Timor-Leste are through to the third round of the AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers.
Malaysia tasted success on home soil in the Pestabola Merdeka with rivals Thailand and Vietnam gauging themselves against each other. ASEAN United FC brings you up to speed with all the happenings in the latest international window.
Team Garuda hold Saudi Arabia and Australia to stalemates
Shin Tae-yong’s Indonesia started their maiden third-round appearance in the FIFA World Cup qualifiers by holding higher-ranked opposition to draws in their opening two fixtures.
First up for Indonesia was a difficult away trip to face Saudi Arabia at the King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah. Sandy Walsh deflected in the opener in the 19th minute before Musab Al Juwayr responded for the hosts in first-half stoppage time.
However, Indonesia kept out waves of attacks from the Saudis in the second half with debutant goalkeeper Maarten Paes’ heroics keeping out Salem Al Dawsari’s penalty with Team Garuda earning a valuable point after a 1-1 result away from home.
Five days later, Team Garuda were back home and took on Australia in a cauldron-like atmosphere at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium. Despite the Socceroos having more attempts on goal and more possession, they were unable to breach the home side’s backline.
Paes once again delivered a Player of the Match performance in goal with the match ending goalless which meant Indonesia are currently in fourth spot in Group C, above Australia and China PR, as the Southeast Asian nation dream of a coveted FIFA World Cup spot for the first time in 88 years.
Brunei DS, Timor-Leste reach third round of Asian Cup qualifiers
Brunei DS and Timor-Leste won their respective playoff round ties to make it through to the third round of the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers after contrasting victories.
Brunei won the first-leg 3-0 at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium in Bandar Seri Begawan before a 1-0 away win in Macau sealed a comfortable 4-0 victory on aggregate.
On the other hand, Joao Pedro netted a hat-trick in a convincing 4-1 first-leg home match for Timor-Leste, which was held in Bali. However, in the second leg in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia gave the visitors a real scare.
Goals in either half saw Mongolia take a 2-0 lead in the 54th minute but Timor-Leste ultimately held on to advance 4-3 on aggregate.
Brunei and Timor-Leste will next take on each other in the ASEAN Mitsubishi Electric Cup qualifiers over two legs, which are scheduled to take place on 8th and 15th of October.
It could have been a hat-trick of ASEAN teams in the third round with Cambodia in action versus Sri Lanka and after a 0-0 first-leg in Colombo, they faced off in Phnom Penh in the decider.
Nhean Sosidan and Sos Suhana were on target for Cambodia as they were on the brink of reaching the next round until Claudio Kammerknecht popped up with the equaliser in the 122nd minute to force penalties.
Nick Taylor and Orn Chanpolin missed from the spot as Sri Lanka won 4-2 in the shootout denying Southeast Asia of a 10th team in the next round, which will begin in March 2025.
Malaysia lift Merdeka Cup
Romel Morales was the hero for Harimau Malaya as his 33rd-minute strike gave Malaysia a 1-0 win in the final against Lebanon at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium to emerge as the Pestabola Merdeka 2024 winners.
Malaysia had seen off the Philippines 2-1 in the semi-finals with the Filipinos also suffering a 4-3 penalty shootout defeat to Tajikistan in the third-place match.
Thailand beat Vietnam in Hanoi
And finally, in Hanoi’s My Dinh National Stadium Vietnam and Thailand squared off in an international friendly. Patrik Gustavsson had a night to remember, scoring the winner on his senior national team debut for the War Elephants.
Nguyen Tien Linh broke the deadlock before Suphanat Mueanta restored parity for the Thais five minutes later followed by Gustavsson’s goal earning Masatada Ishii’s side a 2-1 win.
New Vietnam head coach Kim Sang-sik will have his work cut out ahead of December’s ASEAN showpiece, with his side also suffering a 3-0 loss at the hands of Russia in the same venue.
Photo: PSSI
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