TEMPO.CO, Valencia - Indonesian National Team won by a slight 1-0 victory against Andorra in a friendly match at Luis Suner Pico Stadium, Alzira, Valencia, Spain. It was Raphael Maitimo's penalty shot in the second half that helped Garuda prevail over Andorra.
The victory in Valencia might boost Indonesia's world ranking in FIFA to 10 points, reaching to 144th. Andorra, on the other hand, sits far below Indonesia at 199th. The nation, never once qualified to World Cup, is also the fifth smallest nation in the European Football Association (UEFA).
The friendly match against Andorra is a part of the national team training center in Valencia. The next fixtures will set Indonesia facing Cuba National Team and La Liga club Elche.
The training center in Spain is as a preparation for Alfred Riedl's squad to embark on Southeast Asia Federation Cup (AFF) 2014 in Singapore and Vietnam later this year. Riedl, now taking the helmsman's hotseat once again, is tasked to win the competition, reviving the glorious Garuda like that in the old time.
GADI MAKITAN