The Indonesian National Football Team recorded its second consecutive victory in the June FIFA Matchday international friendlies after edging Mozambique 1-0 at the Gelora Bung Karno Main Stadium (SUGBK) in Jakarta on Tuesday night, June 9, 2026. Although Indonesia collected another win, the scoreline was narrower than the convincing 3-0 triumph over Oman the previous weekend.
Indonesia head coach John Herdman described the two successive victories as an important foundation for the continued development of his squad. The achievement also ended a lengthy wait for Indonesia to register consecutive home victories, a feat the national team last accomplished during the 2024 season.
Despite securing all three points, Herdman admitted that Mozambique presented a tougher challenge than expected. The visitors played with great determination and applied sustained pressure that tested Indonesia’s physical resilience and tactical organization.
“We expected them to give everything they had. We needed a difficult match like this to test ourselves, particularly to see how resilient and durable the team can be under pressure,” the English coach said after the match.
Herdman also praised the mental strength shown by his players, noting their ability to remain composed despite facing constant pressure. He further suggested that local talents such as Rizky Ridho and Dony Tri Pamungkas could play increasingly important roles as the team prepares for the upcoming AFF Cup campaign.
A similar view was shared by Indonesia striker Ole Romeny. The Oxford United forward emphasized that the positive results should not lead the squad to become complacent.
“We can still play much better. However, the most important thing is that we completed our task by winning two matches in a row. The incredible support from the fans in the stadium also gave us extra energy,” said the 25-year-old.
Squad Rotation
Several adjustments were made to the starting lineup by Herdman for the match against Mozambique. Maarten Paes was selected in goal, replacing Emil Audero, who had impressed during Indonesia’s victory over Oman. In defense, a three-man backline consisting of Rizky Ridho, Elkan Baggott, and Kevin Diks was deployed.
The midfield featured the partnership of Ivar Jenner and Joey Pelupessy, supported by Dony Tri Pamungkas and Calvin Verdonk on the flanks. Further forward, Marselino Ferdinan returned to the starting eleven to support Ragnar Oratmangoen and Ole Romeny in attack.
Indonesia immediately took control of the game from the opening whistle. The breakthrough arrived in the 11th minute when the crowd at SUGBK erupted in celebration.
The move began with Ragnar Oratmangoen spotting a gap in Mozambique’s defense before delivering a perfectly weighted through ball. Romeny broke free from his marker, calmly rounded Mozambique goalkeeper Ivane Carminio Francisco, and slotted the ball into an empty net to put Indonesia ahead 1-0.
Indonesia thought it had doubled the lead six minutes later following a scramble inside the penalty area. However, the referee disallowed the goal after ruling that Ivar Jenner had committed a foul on the opposing goalkeeper. As a result, the hosts carried a 1-0 advantage into halftime.
Mozambique Increase the Pressure
The complexion of the match changed after the break as Mozambique adopted a more aggressive approach following three substitutions. In response to the visitors’ growing pressure, Herdman introduced Rayhan Hannan, Sandy Walsh, and Nathan Tjoe-A-On in the 64th minute.
The fresh legs almost made an immediate impact. Three minutes later, Nathan came close to extending Indonesia’s lead, but his effort struck the crossbar.
At the other end, Maarten Paes was called into action on several occasions and produced crucial saves to deny Mozambique from two clear scoring opportunities.
No further goals were scored before the final whistle. The 1-0 victory secured Indonesia’s second win of the June FIFA Matchday window and extended the team’s positive momentum heading into future international competitions.***
