Despite going up against a team that has played friendlies against countries like East Timor, Morocco, Palestine and Turkey during the Islamic Solidarity Games, and Hong Kong teams Sun Pegasus and Citizen in the past three months, PNG did give their best shot.
Despite that back-drop PNG opened up well and despite the latter scoring two goals down the right-flank in similar fashion to Dendi Santoso in the opening 20 minutes and then their second to striker Yandi Munawar, they had several chances as well to surprise the hosts with their fighting spirit.
PNG were in the game and had their fair share of chances in the first half from left flanker Nigel Dabinyaba with two chances gone begging gafter latching on a through ball from Jacon Sabua on both occassions.
The other chance came from right-flank Max Sengum on the stroke of half-time.
The second-half was all Indonesia as they picked up the tempo to bombard PNG goal-keeper Benjamin Wilbert several times before their nippy skipper Andrik Vermansah blasted their third goal within seven minutes of the second-half.
Wilbert (injured) then gave way for reserve goal-keeper Charles Lepani who within a minute was reeling from Munawar’s second-goal.
Then when Bayu Sanggiawan sent home their fifth goal the match was over.
PNG replacements Patrick Aisa tried to ignite in spurts down the right-flank but was a little too late as the latter still had time to blast their last goal through Roni Beroperay for the win.
With one match remaing against Laos on Sunday, skipper Koriak Upaiga said despite the two losses the team is picking up momentum and actually played better than the score suggests.
Upaiga said they had the chances to put away certain goals in the first half but again lacked the finishing off to maintain pace with the home-side.
“The two matches have clearly shown where we are and gives the team as a whole a better idea of what level we need to rise to be on par,” he said.
Upaiga, an experienced campaigner for National Soccer League club Hekari FC at the O-League level in the OFC further said that that they are looking forward to ending their three-match tour on a high note against Laos in their last match of the tournament.
Indonesia are undefeated with two wins, the first was a 3-0 win over Laos.
PNG’s starting line-up: Benjamin Wilbert, Daniel Joe, Roland Bala, Peter Yang, Koriak Upaiga, Eliud Saindulo, Nigel Dabinyaba,Max Sengum, Jacob Sabua, Tommy Semmy, Jamal Seeto.
Reserves used: Ronald Conn, Patrick Aisa, Charles Lepani, Darren Steven, John Ray.