REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, By, Bustanuddin

The national soccer team of under-19 year olds (Timnas U-19), which began its domestic tryout matches on February 3, 2014, has crushed two domestic opponents, PSS Sleman and Persiba Bantul.

The Timnas U-19 has been scheduled to undergo four tryout matches, the first of which is the so-called Nusantara Tour (archipelagic tour), by facing PSS Sleman and Persiba Bantul football teams in Yogyakarta province.

According to the Timnas U-19 coach, Indra Sjafri, one of the domestic tryout matches will take place in Indonesia?s eastern-most province of Papua.

"The four tryouts are the domestic (Tour Nusantara), the Middle Eastern, the European and a Mini Tournament in Jakarta," Indra stated, adding that the national soccer team will take part in the International Championship AFC U-19 in Myanmar in October 2014.

When facing PSS Sleman on Monday (Feb 3) night in Maguwoharjo stadium, Yogyakarta, the Timnas gained a full point by crushing the PSS Sleman 3-1 (2-0).

The three goals were netted by Timnas player Ilham Udin at the 15th and 26th minutes, and the third goal was made by David Maulana at 70th minute.

In the first half, Timnas controlled the game by launching more attacks against the defense of PSS Sleman.

The attacks were successful, as Ilham Udin netted the first goal at the 15th minute.

After gaining one goal, the Timnas players continued to dominate the game and increased the score with another goal at the 26th minute, also through the legs of Ilham Udin.

The superiority of the Timnas then motivated their players to increase the tempo of the game. However, until the end of the first half, the score remained 2-0, as the U-19 did not change.

In the second round, PSS Sleman increased the tempo through a fairly vigorous attack, where at the 70th minute, Yulianto of the PSS Sleman netted one goal, which made the score 2-1.

Then the Timnas stepped up its pressure on PSS Sleman's defense, and David Maulana netted another goal to assure a Timnas victory at 76 minutes, which made the score 3-1.

In the second tryout match in Sultan Agung Stadium, Bantul, Yogyakarta on Wednesday night, the Timnas defeated Persiba Bantul 2-0.

The first goal was scored by the player with the number 10, Saiful Hadi Ning Saifullah, in the 15th minute following his hard kick in front of the goal.

Meanwhile, the second goal was made by Evan Dimas Darmono at the 22nd minute.

After conceding the second goal, Bantul team replaced Aris Kuswanto with M Yasir as goal keeper. M Yasir looked better in the goal.

Although the Timnas team controlled the game, Persiba Bantul had a number of chances to score a goal, however, Bantul failed to net even one goal.

In the first half, the pace of the game was moderate, but in the second half both teams played somewhat slower.

In the final minutes of the second half, both teams looked exhausted, although the Timnas U-19 has some opportunities, though the national team failed to increase its score, nor was Bantul able to minimize its defeat as the second half ended.

Apart from that, coach Indra Sjafri stated that the domestic tryouts are expected to be completed in February 2014, and at least 29 players have undergone the second stage of preparations.

"At the time for a mini tournament, which will begin in Jakarta, the Timnas U-19 must really be ready to take part in the International Championship AFC U-19 in Myanmar in October 2014, Indra noted.

The Timnas U-19 defeated the "powerful" South Korean club at the qualification final group G of AFC, in Jakarta`s Bung Karno main stadium last year with a score of 3-2 (1-1).

The younger Indonesian soccer team, at the qualification final group G of the AFC Cup, played along with South Korea, Laos, and the Philippines.

Indra Safri remarked that he would continue to teach the Timnas U-19 players simple techniques which are easy to practice.

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