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Following a 0-3 loss to Vietnam, Indonesia faced a must-win situation to advance as Group A's second-placed team.
Coach John Herdman continued to place his trust in naturalized players. He fielded a starting lineup featuring seven foreign-born players. However, facing a disciplined and well-organized Singapore side, the visitors failed to achieve their goal.
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| Ilhan Fandi (number 19) celebrates Singapore's equalizer against Indonesia at Jalan Besar Stadium, Singapore, on Aug. 7, 2026. Photo by FAS |
Indonesia started well and quickly created a clear chance. In the second minute, Mitchell Baker capitalized on a poor decision by goalkeeper Izwan Mahbud, who rushed off his line. However, the 1.97m striker's shot was cleared off the goal line by a Singapore defender.
After surviving that early scare, Singapore regained control of the game. They utilized high pressing and rapid transitions to disrupt Indonesia's rhythm.
In the 20th minute, Indonesia appealed for a penalty. Baker went down in the box following a clash with two home players, but the referee said there was no foul.
Three minutes later, Singapore responded with a dangerous first-time volley from Song Ui-young. This strike forced a save from goalkeeper Cahya Supriadi.
In the 31st minute, Ilhan Fandi troubled Indonesia’s defense again. He showed great ball control, followed by a back-heel flick. Supriadi, who was selected to replace goalkeeper Nadeo Argawinata, managed to dive and save the cheeky shot.
Aside from Baker's early chance, Indonesia did not create many dangerous opportunities in the first half. The visitors had more possession but struggled to break down Singapore's tightly organized defense.
The dynamic of the match shifted immediately after the break. In the 47th minute, Indonesia finally took the lead thanks to a goal from Ragnar Oratmangoen. During a scramble inside the box, the number 11 forward initially missed his first attempt. He then quickly redeemed himself by firing the loose ball into Singapore’s net. At this point, the hosts needed an equalizer to keep their hopes of advancing alive.
The second half was played at a much higher tempo, and the next turning point arrived in the 57th minute. Song Ui-young and Ivar Jenner clashed during an incident off the ball.
Initially, the referee issued a second yellow card to the Singapore midfielder for retaliation, sending him off. However, after consulting VAR, the referee reversed the decision. He canceled the yellow card, allowing the hosts to continue with a full squad of 11 players.
Singapore was elated after VAR deleted their red card, while Indonesia suffered a significant blow to their spirit.
In the 65th minute, Indonesia’s defense messed up following a cross into the box. A lack of coordination between center-back Rizky Ridho and goalkeeper Supriadi left the ball completely loose. This allowed Fandi to rush in and tap the ball into an empty net, equalizing at 1–1 for Singapore.
After conceding, Indonesia pushed forward for the remainder of the match. The visitors relentlessly increased the pressure and committed more players to the attack.
Despite this, their build-up play lacked the necessary sharpness against Singapore's resolute defense. Their best late chance fell to Eka Pratama. He made a clever run to receive a teammate's pass but sent his shot wide of the goal.
Meanwhile, Singapore chose to sit deep. They maintained their defensive shape while patiently waiting for counter-attacking chances.
Their solid defense made Indonesia impatient, leading to a loss of composure and a flurry of yellow cards for the visitors. After more than 10 minutes of tense stoppage time, the match ended in a 1–1 draw.
This result saw Indonesia eliminated in the group stage with seven points, finishing one point behind Singapore. The hosts successfully secured a semi-final spot by finishing second in Group A. Vietnam topped the group following a 3–1 victory over Cambodia in the other match on Friday.
Indonesia's elimination came as a big surprise to many, given that they boasted the tournament's strongest squad on paper. Coach Herdman had called up 12 naturalized players for this tournament. According to Transfermarkt, Indonesia held the highest squad value in the tournament, estimated at approximately US$11.13 million.
Under then coach Shin Tae-yong, Indonesia were also eliminated in the group stage of the 2024 ASEAN Cup, which Vietnam won eventually.
2026 ASEAN Cup highlights: Singapore 1-1 Indonesia
