Deeb goal helps Jordan down Indonesia

AFC – AMMAN, Abdullah Deeb’s second-half goal saw Jordan beat Indonesia 1-0 in a friendly tune-up on Saturday.

The match was Indonesia’s final warm-up before they take on Iran on September 2 at Tehran’s Azadi Stadium in the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, while Jordan clash with 2007 AFC Asian Cup champions Iraq on the same day at the Francouse Hariri Stadium in Arbil.

The defeat was also the Merah Putih’s first under coach Wim Rijsbergen but comes at a crucial time.

The match looked even until Deeb’s game-changing goal with the South-East Asian side impressing in phases with their bursts of speed and tactical nous. Cristian Gonzalez and Muhammad Ridwan combined well in the first half to keep up the pressure on the Jordanian custodian but failed to find the net.

The Indonesian goalkeeper Ferry Rotinsulu was injured in the first period and had to be replaced by Markus Horison, who failed to anticipate a cornerkick from the left flank, allowing Deeb to score.