SEOUL: Indonesia’s head coach Shin Tae Yong experienced mixed emotions as his team ousted his native South Korea with an 11-10 victory on penalties in the AFC U-23 Asian Cup quarterfinals Thursday in Qatar.
“This feels great,” Shin said, acknowledging the complexity of defeating his homeland.
“But someone had to win, and I only did the best I could for Indonesia,” Yonhap news agency quoted Shin as saying after Indonesia eliminated South Korea in the quarterfinals.
Under Shin’s leadership since 2019, Indonesia has seen significant success, including reaching the knockout stage of the AFC Asian Cup for the first time earlier this year.
They are now one win away from securing their first Olympic appearance since 1956.
The victory over South Korea, who played with 10 men, was clinched when goalkeeper Ernando Ari saved a decisive penalty and Pratama Arhan scored, continuing Indonesia’s underdog story.
Shin expressed unwavering faith in his team’s capabilities throughout the tournament.
“We’ve come this far because I’ve instilled confidence in these players,” he said adding that his broader goal includes advancing Indonesia in World Cup qualifications and enhancing the nation’s football reputation globally.
The coach also confirmed discussions about extending his contract until 2027, hinting at a positive outcome.
“I haven’t put pen to paper yet, but I am pretty sure my contract will be extended,” Shin revealed after a successful meeting with Football Association of Indonesia Chairman, Erick Thohir. – BERNAMA-YONHAP
