Indonesia stormed into the final of the AFC Futsal Asian Cup Indonesia by stunning four-time champions Japan 5-3 in extra time in their action-packed semi-final in Jakarta.
Indonesia, who survived a late fightback in regulation time to come out tops, will meet Iran in their first ever appearance in the final on Saturday.
Both sides started strongly, with Japan’s Shoto Yamanaka forcing a save from keeper Ahmad Habiebie in the third minute and Ryoto Kai shooting wide a minute later.
The hosts stood firm, Yogi Saputra testing keeper Hiroshi Tabuchi from the left flank in the sixth minute and Samuel Eko doing the same moments later.
As play swung from end to end, both sides failed to create any real opportunities, Kokoro Harada striking the left post in the eighth minute and finding the side netting soon after while Indonesia’s offence tried their luck from distance.
Samuel Eko got the packed stadium on their feet, however, in the 11th minute when he picked up a loose ball from a goalmouth scramble, spun and fired from outside the semi-circle through Tabuchi’s legs into the bottom right corner.
The East Asian side’s efforts to get back in the game saw skipper Kazuya Shimizu rattle the left post and Ahmad saving from both Harada and Tomoki Yoshikawa before palming away Takehiro Motoishi’s stinging strike in the 18th minute.
Samuel Eko again made Tabuchi sweat when he muscled his way through the opposition and pushed the keeper into a full length save, his attempt closing the action in the first half.
Indonesia skipper Mochammad Iqbal again had the home fans roaring after the break when he latched on to a pass from Israr Megantara but Tabuchi was alert enough to deny his point-blank shot.
Ahmad then struck out a leg on the opposing end to keep out a shot from Shunta Uchida before Indonesia added to Japan’s woes in the 23rd minute when an under-pressure Motoishi turned the ball into his own net from an effort by Adriansyah Nur.
Israr and Brian Lindrey both came close to putting Indonesia further ahead if not for an alert Tabuchi, with Yusei Arai then striking the post off a free-kick as Japan redoubled their efforts.
Motoisihi gave his side a lifeline in the 31st minute when Ahmad fumbled his low drive from outside the semi-circle, with the ball slipping under the keeper after he initially managed to get his hands on it.
Tabuchi made crucial saves from Firman Adriansyah and Samuel Eko to keep his side in the game before Shimizu leveled the score in the 35th minute when he sent a blistering shot from the left that had Ahmad completely beaten.
Firman Adriansyah thought he had struck Indonesia’s winner a minute before the end when he booted home from outside the semi-circle, but Japan turned the game on its head in the dying seconds when they were awarded a penalty after a handball by Iqbal, with Shimizu driving his shot past a rooted Ahmad.
Indonesia, however, were not to be denied as Reza Gunawan put them ahead in the last minute of first half extra time when he latched onto a stray pass by Arai and let fly from outside the semi-circle with Rizki Amanda then latching onto a stray pass to seal the match three minutes into the second half.
Iran fight back to beat Iraq
Iran will defend their title after they twice came from behind to defeat Iraq 4-2 in their semi-final earlier.
The Central Asian side will be playing in the final for the 16th time and bid for a 14th title.
An even start saw the sides trading attempts, Iraq going close through Mustafa Ihsan and Harith Saad with Iran responding through Mohammadihossein Derakhshani’s header which bounced off the crossbar.
Ihsan then used his physical strength to turn Salar Aghapour in the sixth minute but saw his effort blocked by Bagher Mohammadi.
Iraq gained the advantage in the 10th minute, opening the scoring through Salim Kadhim who robbed Saeid Ahmad Abbasi of possession on the halfway line before surging forward to find the bottom corner.
The lead, however, only lasted a minute with Ahmad Abbasi redeeming himself with a perfect reverse pass to Derakhshani, who swept home from close range with Iraq custodian Ibrahim Ahmed rooted.
Iraq restored their advantage in the 13th minute after Ghaith Riyadh’s free-kick found Kahdim, who had his initial effort blocked by Mohammadi but stuck out his leg while still on the ground to flick home the rebound.
Iran, yet to trail at half-time in the tournament, ensured they kept the run going as they equalised through a stunning Behrooz Azimi strike from range three minutes from the break.
There were chances at both ends after the interval with Kadhim slicing an effort wide before attempts from Azimi, Aghapour and Amirhossein Gholami failed to beat Ahmed.
Ahmed then did well to tip away Medhi Mehdikhani’s shot in the 26th minute but conceded from the ensuing corner as Hossein Tayebi arrived first to the ball to flick past the Iraq custodian.
Iraq were denied the equaliser in the 30th minute when Derakhshani came to the rescue of Iran, blocking on the goal line to stop Kadhim’s strike after Mohammadi had been caught out of position.
Iran spurned an opportunity to widen the gap four minutes later after they were awarded a penalty for Tareq Zeyad’s foul on Mahdi Karimi but Tayebi’s shot was foiled by Ahmed.
Aghapour, however, struck in the 40th minute end Iraq’s hopes and seal Iran’s place in Saturday’s final.
