Mansion Sports – Indonesia national football team suffered a narrow defeat against Saudi Arabia national football team in their opening Group B match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification – AFC fourth round. 

Playing at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium, the Garuda squad was edged out 2–3 in a hard-fought and dramatic encounter.

A Promising Start: Kevin Diks Gives Indonesia an Early Lead

Head coach Patrick Kluivert deployed a 4-2-3-1 formation, relying on the midfield pairing of Marc Klok and Joey Pelupessy to control the tempo of the game. 

From the opening whistle, Indonesia pressed aggressively, spearheaded by the lively movements of Ragnar Oratmangoen up front.

Their early pressure paid off in the 11th minute when referee Ahmad Al Ali awarded a penalty after Hassan Al-Tambakti was judged to have handled the ball inside the box. 

Kevin Diks, entrusted as the taker, calmly converted the spot kick to give Indonesia a 1–0 lead.

However, the advantage was short-lived. Just six minutes later, Saleh Abu Al-Shamat unleashed a powerful left-footed strike from outside the area that beat Maarten Paes, leveling the score at 1–1.

Saudi Arabia Turns the Tide with VAR and a Penalty

Indonesia’s troubles deepened in the 31st minute when Yakob Sayuri was caught on VAR pulling the shirt of Firas Al-Buraikan inside the penalty area.

Al-Buraikan stepped up to take the penalty himself, slotting the ball past Paes to give Saudi Arabia a 2–1 lead heading into halftime.

Kluivert made tactical adjustments after the break, bringing on Eliano Reijnders for Beckham Putra to inject more creativity in midfield. 

Shortly afterward, Thom Haye and Ole Romeny entered the fray as Indonesia chased an equalizer.

Despite the changes, Saudi Arabia took control of the game. Al-Buraikan came close to scoring again with a dangerous header in the 56th minute, but Paes made a crucial save to keep Indonesia’s hopes alive.

Al-Buraikan’s Brace Puts Indonesia Under Pressure

Saudi Arabia eventually extended their lead in the 62nd minute. Al-Buraikan pounced on a rebound from Musab Al Juwayr’s initial effort to score his second goal of the night, putting the visitors 3–1 ahead and leaving Indonesia under mounting pressure.

After taking a two-goal lead, Saudi Arabia slowed the pace of the game, allowing Indonesia a brief window to build attacks. 

One of their best chances came in the 80th minute when Romeny met a precise pass from Reijnders, but his shot was blocked by the goalkeeper.

Second Kevin Diks Penalty Rekindles Hope

Indonesia found a lifeline in the 87th minute when referee Ahmad Al Ali awarded another penalty following a handball by Nawaf Bu Washl. Diks once again showed composure from the spot, reducing the deficit to 2–3.

The match reached peak intensity when the referee added nine minutes of stoppage time. Saudi Arabia was reduced to ten men after Mohamed Kanno was sent off in the 90+3 minute. Despite the numerical advantage, Indonesia could not find the equalizer before the final whistle.

Match Statistics: Indonesia vs Saudi Arabia

According to FotMob, here are the match statistics:

A Crucial Evaluation for Upcoming Matches

Although Indonesia failed to secure points, their early attacking display revealed encouraging potential. 

However, individual errors and lapses in concentration during critical moments proved costly and allowed the advantage to slip away.

With four Group B matches remaining, Kluivert’s side must address these weaknesses — particularly in maintaining defensive stability and maximizing attacking opportunities. Securing a win in the next fixture will be essential to keep their hopes of advancing alive.