Indonesia’s Midfield Struggles Highlighted by Low Player Ratings in Saudi Arabia Loss
Jakarta – Three Indonesian national team players-Jacob Sayuri, marc Klok, and Beckham Putra-received the lowest performance ratings following a 2-0 defeat against Saudi Arabia, according to data from SofaScore. The underwhelming performances underscore vulnerabilities in Indonesia’s midfield and attack, raising questions about team selection and tactical adjustments moving forward in the Asian Cup.
The poor ratings come as Indonesia prepares for crucial upcoming matches in the tournament. Klok’s error directly led to Saudi Arabia’s opening goal, while Sayuri conceded the penalty that doubled the lead. Putra struggled to make an impact, failing to effectively challenge Saudi Arabia’s defense. These individual shortcomings contributed to a disjointed Indonesian performance and exposed areas needing immediate improvement if the team hopes to advance.
SofaScore rated Sayuri at 5.1, Klok at 6.0, and Putra at 6.1. Klok, who played the full 90 minutes, lost posession 10 times and won only two of five attempted duels. Sayuri lost possession 21 times,achieving 53% pass accuracy and winning seven of 13 duels. Putra was beaten by opponents three times, winning three of eight duels.
klok’s misjudgment in the frist goal saw a clearance bounce back into the Indonesian defense, allowing Saleh to score from outside the box.Sayuri’s foul on Feras Albrikan resulted in a penalty successfully converted by Albrikan.
Analysts point to Klok’s fragility in midfield as creating a notable gap for Saudi Arabia to exploit, while Sayuri was consistently targeted on the right flank. Putra failed to pose a substantial offensive threat. Coach Patrick Kluivert substituted Putra with Eliano at the start of the second half and replaced Sayuri with Sandy Walsh in the 85th minute, prompting questions about the coach’s willingness to experiment with the starting lineup.
“Possession lost is fundamentally an error by a player that allows the opponent to counterattack,” explained a team source. The Indonesian national team will need to address these individual errors and improve overall team cohesion to compete effectively in the remainder of the Asian Cup.