TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Goalkeeper Emil Audero finally made his long-awaited debut for the Indonesian national team. Head coach Patrick Kluivert gave him the nod in the ninth match of the third round of the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers in the Asian zone, where Indonesia faced China on Thursday, June 5, 2025.
Kluivert's decision proved to be the right one, as Emil delivered an outstanding performance between the posts for the Garuda squad. His presence was key in Indonesia’s 1-0 victory over China, highlighted by a clean sheet that showcased his composure and skill.
The win, secured by a penalty from Ole Romeny just before halftime, guaranteed Indonesia a spot in the fourth round of the qualifiers. Now sitting fourth in Group C with 12 points, Indonesia cannot be overtaken by Bahrain or China, which are both stuck on six points, with only one game remaining in the third round.
In front of a packed crowd at Gelora Bung Karno Main Stadium in Senayan, Emil made several vital saves to deny China’s attacks, including a critical stop early in the second half.
For Emil, the opportunity to finally play at GBK, supported by the relentless cheers of Indonesian fans, was a moment he had long been waiting for. The 28-year-old goalkeeper, who was born in Mataram, had previously sat on the bench during Indonesia’s 1-0 win over Bahrain on March 25, when Maarten Paes was the starting keeper.
Emil got his chance after Paes was suspended for accumulating two yellow cards. The Como keeper, recently on loan at Palermo, seized the moment and proved his quality in goal.
After the match, Emil expressed his appreciation for the support from the Indonesian fans. "Truly extraordinary. Thank you to all the fans who supported us, the atmosphere was once again incredible. We continue to dream," he wrote in an Instagram post on Friday, June 6, 2025, as quoted by Antara. The match was witnessed by nearly 70,000 spectators at SUGBK.
Along with his clean sheet, Emil recorded 32 touches, completed 20 passes with 60 percent accuracy, made four successful long passes, two clearances, and won two ground duels, according to Sofascore.
"Thank you also to all my teammates who made my debut so special, the victory and clean sheet," he added.
Looking ahead, Emil will aim to retain his spot in goal when Indonesia takes on Japan at Suita Stadium on Tuesday, June 10, 2025. That match will be Indonesia’s final fixture in the third round of the qualifiers.
While their advancement to the fourth round is already confirmed, Indonesia still has a shot at climbing to third place in the group. They trail Saudi Arabia by just one point. Meanwhile, Japan, with 20 points, has already secured its place in the 2026 World Cup.
The last direct qualification spot from Group C remains up for grabs between Australia, currently second with 16 points, and Saudi Arabia, sitting third with 13. The two teams will face off in a decisive match at King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah in the early hours of Wednesday, June 11, 2025.
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