Olyroos hopes sink after Indonesia under-23 Asian Cup defeat

In Vidmar’s defence, an alternative starting XI could be put together comprising players who, like Tilio and Manchester City’s Alexander Robertson, were injured, or others like Parma’s Alessandro Circati and Scotland-based pair Calem Nieuwenhof and Nectarios Triantis, who were blocked by their clubs because the Asian Cup falls outside of a FIFA window – meaning he has been, to a large degree, hamstrung by circumstances.

And the Olyroos’ lead-up form in other tournaments, which included wins over France, Mexico, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, gave little hint that such a poor performance was in the offing.

Still, there was enough talent on the pitch at the Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium in Doha for the Olyroos to be able to account for Indonesia, first-time qualifiers for this tournament who have somehow conjured their first competitive win at this level against all the odds.

Australia should have taken the lead from the penalty spot midway through the first half after the VAR picked up a handball in the box from Indonesia, but striker Mohamed Toure’s conversion attempt was saved by Indonesian goalkeeper Ernando Ari Sutaryadi. Toure’s header against the bar from a corner kick minutes later was as close as they would come to scoring.

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Indonesia needed a slice of fortune to go ahead on the stroke of half-time – Komang Teguh headed in a teammate’s attempted shot, which skewed off his boot and into his path – but they defended their lead stoutly, and the introduction of Garang and Alou Kuol along with Western Sydney Wanderers star Nicolas Milanovic with a triple-substitution in the 75th minute could not change the dynamic for the Olyroos.

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