AFC U-23 Asian Cup 2024: Olyroos’ Paris 2024 Olympic hopes fade after shock 1-0 loss to Indonesia

The Australian men’s football team suffered a shock 1-0 loss to Indonesia in its second Group A match of the AFC U-23 Asian Cup 2024 at the Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium in Doha, Qatar on Thursday.

Komang Teguh’s goal at the cusp of half-time decided the contest and earned Indonesia their first-ever victory in the AFC U-23 Asian Cup.

The loss will be a big hit for Australia’s ambitions of making the quarter-finals of the U-23 AFC Asian Cup and by extension the Paris 2024 Olympics.

The Olyroos are currently bottom of their group with one point from two games. Even a win against hosts Qatar in their next match on Sunday may not be enough to earn Australia a top-two finish in Group A and a passage to the last eight.

The U-23 AFC Asian Cup is also a qualifying event for the Paris 2024 Olympics. The two finalists and the third-placed team at the Asian Cup will qualify for the upcoming Summer Games.

The team that finishes fourth will get another shot at qualifying through an intercontinental play-off clash against Guinea.

The Olyroos, who were held to a goalless draw by Jordan in their opening game of the tournament, took an attacking approach from the get-go, initiating an open match.

Indonesia, playing their maiden AFC U-23 Asian Cup, created the first big chance of the match but Jeam Sroyer’s shot at goal was blocked. Mohamed Touré could have given the Olyroos the lead almost immediately at the other end but the striker failed to keep his shot down.

Though the Australia U-23 football team dominated possession, Indonesia kept threatening on the counter and created their fair share of dangerous opportunities.

Around the 25-minute mark, Australia were awarded a penalty after Indonesia's Komang Teguh handled the ball inside his own half. Touré’s low shot, however, was saved by Indonesian goalkeeper Ernando Ari.

Ari was a busy man in the minutes that followed as Australia created a flurry of chances. Almost immediately after the penalty miss, Touré got himself on the end of a corner but his looping header came out after hitting the crossbar.

The ball fell kindly to Nishan Velupillay but the Australian player’s shot at goal was well-saved by Ari.

The match continued with the Olyroos looking the more likely to open the scoring while Indonesia relied on counters. Interestingly, it was the Indonesians who took the lead against the flow of the game.

Teguh, who had conceded the penalty earlier, nodded in a volley from teammate Nathan Tjoe-A-On right at the cusp of half-time. It was Indonesia’s first goal of the competition following a 2-0 loss to Qatar in their opening Group A match.

Trailing 1-0 at the break, the Olyroos came out all guns blazing in the second half in search of an equaliser.

The Aussies kept knocking at the door and came close on multiple occasions only to be denied by a resolute Indonesian defence. With the Olyroos maintaining a high line, Indonesia, too, had their opportunities to break on the counter.

The cat and mouse game, though an entertaining affair, failed to yield any goals as the match ended 1-0 in Indonesia’s favour.