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Group F: Indonesia seal berth
Jakarta: Indonesia booked their place in the next round of Asia’s qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup 2026 and confirmed their progress to the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™ with a 2-0 win over the Philippines on Tuesday at a buoyant Gelora Bung Karno Stadium.

Thom Haye put Shin Tae-yong’s side in front before a header from defender Rizky Ridho doubled the home side’s advantage to the delight of the more than 64,000 fans in central Jakarta as Indonesia advanced to the third phase of FIFA World Cup qualifying for the first time.

The result means Indonesia are guaranteed to finish second in Group F, ahead of Vietnam and the Philippines, and will go into the draw on June 27 alongside winners Iraq.


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Needing a victory to be sure of advancing, the home side started brightly with Ragnar Oratmangoen’s sixth minute effort deflected wide for a corner while less than a minute later Marselino Ferdinan’s header from eight yards was powered straight at Kevin Mendoza.

Justin Hubner tried his luck from distance to no avail while Calvin Verdonk was also off target when he was gifted possession inside the Philippines penalty area with 18 minutes on the clock, the full back shooting over the bar.

Oratmangoen then hit the side netting after Rafael Struick threaded an inviting pass across the face of goal from the right side of the penalty area as Indonesia inched closer to the opener.
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Marselino forced Mendoza into action after stumbling through the Philippines defence in the 29th minute, but there was nothing the visiting goalkeeper could do three minutes later as Haye gave Shin’s side the lead.

The Heerenveen midfielder was gifted time and space by the Philippines’ players and he took full advantage, marching forward to bend a perfectly judged shot into the top corner of Mendoza’s goal from 25 yards.

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Oratmangoen then flashed his long-range shot over the bar three minutes before the interval while, soon after the restart, the winger narrowly missed putting the finishing touch to a pass that flew across the face of goal.

Six minutes into the second half Patrick Reichelt headed Michael Baldisimo’s corner over the Indonesian crossbar in a rare sight of goal for the visitors but soon after Tom Saintfiet’s side were further behind.

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Nathan Tjoe-A-On clipped his free kick into the penalty area from the left side and the unmarked Rizky was first to meet the ball, glancing his header past a helpless and unprotected Mendoza.

Indonesia sought a third, with Ivar Jenner’s close range attempt deflected off target with 16 minutes remaining but the destination of the three points was never in doubt after Rizky’s crucial second.