Indonesia stunned by Laos in U23 Asian Cup qualifiers

Indonesia entered the 2026 U23 Asian qualifiers with several advantages. As the host nation of Group J, they were up against Laos, Macau and South Korea. With key players who had recently reached the final of the ASEAN U23 Championship, where they lost 0-1 to Vietnam, coach Gerald Vanenburg's team was expected to compete for the top spot to secure a direct ticket to the finals or become one of the four best second-placed teams.

From the start, Indonesia dominated possession and created many chances. However, they lacked the one thing that mattered most: a goal.

In the 6th minute, Indonesia thought they had scored when Rayan Hannan's shot found the back of the net, but the referee ruled that Jens Raven, who was in an offside position, touched the ball last, disallowing the goal.

Raven, of Dutch descent, acquired Indonesian nationality in June 2024. He had an impressive run with the U19 and U20 Indonesia teams, scoring 8 goals in 17 matches and was the top scorer at the 2025 ASEAN U23 Championship with 7 goals.

Indonesia receive a shocking draw against Laos in the 2026 Asian Cup qualifier on Sept. 3, 2025. Photo by Instagram/@timmasindonesia

The disallowed goal set the tone for Indonesia’s frustrating night. Between the 25th and 29th minutes, Toni Firmansyah and Rafael Struick had chances but failed to beat Laos goalkeeper, Kop Lokphathip. In the 33rd and 42nd minutes, the home side managed to bypass Lokphathip but were denied by Laos defenders.

The same pattern continued in the second half. Indonesia kept pressing, with Struick creating notable chances, but could not breach the solid defense of Laos. Goalkeeper Lokphathip stood firm with at least two more crucial saves.

The goalless draw left Indonesia in a dangerous position, especially with a tough upcoming match against South Korea, who had crushed Macau 5-0 in the previous match.

Meanwhile, Thailand had little trouble against Mongolia at home in Thammasat Stadium. They led 3-0 in the first half thanks to a double from Seksan Ratree and an opening goal by Iklas Sanron. In the second half, Ratree completed his hat-trick, and Chawanwit Saelao and Yotsakorn Burapha added more goals, sealing a crushing 6-0 victory.

The 2026 U23 Asian Cup qualifiers take place from Sept. 3 to 9, with 44 teams divided into 11 groups. The teams will compete in a round-robin format, with the top 11 group winners and four best second-placed teams, alongside host Saudi Arabia, advancing to the main tournament.