Top News

JAKARTA – The Indonesian national football team ended a 38-year wait for victory over Oman with an emphatic 3-0 win in a FIFA Matchday fixture at the Gelora Bung Karno Main Stadium (SUGBK), Senayan, Jakarta, on Friday (June 5, 2026).

The Garuda squad’s three goals were scored by Justin Hubner, Ole Romeny, and Ragnar Oratmangoen.

Head coach John Herdman expressed great pride in the team’s performance and the result.

However, amid the excitement of this convincing win, goalkeeper Emil Audero reminded his teammates not to become complacent, noting that the team’s journey is still a long one.

Herdman: An Important Victory, But the Journey Isn’t Over Yet

The atmosphere at Gelora Bung Karno, filled with tens of thousands of passionate fans, was one of the most memorable moments for Herdman.

The English coach admitted he was moved by the level of support from Indonesian football fans throughout the match.

“I’m tired, good evening,” Herdman said in Indonesian with a smile as he opened the post-match press conference.

“Thank you very much to all the supporters. They were incredible tonight. Seeing all of them in the stadium made me emotional.”

“Just look at the spirit this country has for football. We hope to continue growing,” he added.

According to Herdman, the win over Oman carried significant meaning as it marked Indonesia’s first victory over the Gulf nation in nearly four decades.

Nevertheless, he stressed that this success was not the end of the team’s development process.

“Tonight was an important step against Oman. It’s our first win in 38 years. We want to keep moving forward. The journey is not finished yet,” he said.

Emil’s Penalty Save as the Turning Point

Herdman also highlighted Emil Audero’s crucial penalty save in the first half.

He explained that the moment helped Indonesia maintain their momentum before taking full control of the game.

“Emil played a huge role with that penalty save. We controlled the match after that, and we want to keep improving. Hopefully, even more fans will come to the stadium next Tuesday,” said Herdman.

The save proved to be a pivotal moment before Indonesia extended their lead and finished the match with a dominant three-goal margin.

Emil Audero: Celebrate the Win, Then Get Back to Work

Emil Audero expressed his delight at helping Indonesia claim victory in front of their home fans.

However, the 29-year-old goalkeeper emphasized that the win over Oman should not cause the team to lose focus.

“First of all, we are very happy with this result. Tonight was important for us. We wanted to deliver our best performance for everyone who supports us,” said Emil.

The former Inter Milan and Sampdoria goalkeeper noted that the next challenge would be even more crucial than the result they just achieved.

“We must celebrate this victory, but after that, we need to get back to training properly. In football, what we’ve done so far is not much. The most important thing is the next match,” he explained.

Emil also praised all his teammates, saying they showed discipline and hard work throughout the game.

“I want to commend all the players in this team. We must set high standards for ourselves,” he said.

Aiming for Bigger Goals

Although he preferred to stay focused on the upcoming match, Emil did not hide the Garuda squad’s long-term ambitions for the coming years.

“Our target is to qualify for the World Cup within the next four years. But for now, we just want to enjoy this winning moment first,” he concluded.

After defeating Oman, Indonesia will play another FIFA Matchday fixture against Mozambique at SUGBK on Tuesday, June 9, 2026.

The victory against Oman gives the Garuda team a strong boost of confidence to maintain their positive momentum and test their consistency in the next match.