Tue Nov 19 16:11:01 UTC 2024: ## Indonesia Upsets Saudi Arabia in World Cup Qualifier Thriller
**JAKARTA, Indonesia** – Indonesia pulled off a stunning 2-0 victory over Saudi Arabia in a crucial Group C match of the Asian qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Tuesday. The win marks Indonesia’s first-ever victory in the third round of World Cup qualifying and propels them level on points with Saudi Arabia and China.
Marselino Ferdinan, who plays for Oxford United in England’s second tier, scored both goals for Indonesia, one in each half, securing a historic win for the Southeast Asian nation. Their last World Cup appearance was in 1938 as the Dutch East Indies.
The match was not without incident. Indonesia finished the game with 10 men after Justin Hubner received a second yellow card for an off-the-ball infraction. Saudi Arabia also hit the crossbar late in the match.
Despite the loss, Saudi Arabian coach Herve Renard conceded that Indonesia deserved the win. “We have four games left, and it will be tough, but it will be tough for everybody,” he stated. Indonesia’s goalkeeper, Maarten Paes, expressed his pride in the team’s performance, highlighting their strong defense and Ferdinan’s impressive goals.
Elsewhere in Group C, Japan maintained their dominant position, defeating China 3-1 to extend their lead at the top of the table to 10 points. Koki Ogawa scored two goals for Japan, while Ko Itakura added another. Australia also has the opportunity to solidify their position in second place with a win against Bahrain.
In Group A, Uzbekistan edged closer to their first World Cup appearance with a 1-0 victory over North Korea, thanks to a first-half goal from Abbosbek Fayzullaev. North Korea missed a late penalty.
The top two teams from each of the three six-team groups automatically qualify for the World Cup. The third and fourth-placed teams will advance to the next stage of qualification.
First Piper 