Singapore Admits Indonesia's Superiority at ASEAN Cup 2026: A Valuable Lesson from the 0-2 Defeat

The Indonesia national team picked up a positive result in their opening match of the FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026 after beating Singapore 2-0 at Gelora Bung Karno Main Stadium, Jakarta, on Friday (25/9/2026). The two winning goals for John Herdman's squad were scored by Ragnar Oratmangoen and Ole Romeny, who proved the difference in the match.

The win is important capital for Indonesia, which is building its team's foundation ahead of prestigious tournaments at the Asian level. For Singapore, however, the defeat leaves a deep mark. Coach Gavin Lee openly acknowledged Indonesia's superiority, but also highlighted his own players' mental weaknesses.

In the post-match press conference, Lee expressed his respect for Indonesia. According to him, the quality of the Merah Putih team was already known before the match, and the result confirmed that Indonesia is a tough opponent. "We knew they were a strong team, and tonight they played very well," Lee said, as quoted from his statement to the media.

While acknowledging the opponent's superiority, Lee did not turn a blind eye to his team's internal problems. He judged that the Singapore players showed Indonesia too much respect, especially in the first half, and thus lost their initiative and confidence. "We did not believe enough in our own ability from the start. That is what made it difficult for us," he added.

Entering the second half, Singapore put up a better fight. They played more freely and created several chances, though they had to lose Shafuan Baharuddin to a straight red card midway through the half. Playing with 10 men, Singapore kept trying to press and search for a goal, an effort that Lee said deserved appreciation.

"We responded much better in the second half. Even after going down to 10 players, we kept applying pressure. That is something we can be proud of," Lee said.

The win puts Indonesia in a favorable position in Group A, while Singapore must quickly regroup. For Indonesia, the result is not just about three points, but also a signal that squad depth and the quality of naturalized players such as Oratmangoen and Romeny are starting to fit into Herdman's system. The support of tens of thousands of fans at Gelora Bung Karno Main Stadium was an additional factor that lifted the players' morale.

On the other side, Singapore is using this tournament as preparation for the 2027 Asian Cup. Lee and striker Ilhan Fandi had previously said they were eager to face Indonesia and experience the heated atmosphere in Jakarta. However, this result is a mirror showing that they still need to improve their competitive mentality at the international level.

For the Indonesian public, the win over Singapore strengthens the hope that the national team can make a strong showing at this year's ASEAN Cup. However, the real test still awaits, especially against more physical and tactical opponents. Consistency is the key word if Indonesia wants to go far.

The question is, can Indonesia maintain this performance when facing greater pressure, and how quickly can Singapore bounce back from its opening defeat? The answers will be seen in the matches to come.