Dramatic! Indonesia Defeats China 1-0 Through Ole Romeny’s Penalty at GBK

The Indonesian national team carved another sweet chapter in their football history at Gelora Bung Karno Main Stadium on Thursday (June 5, 2025), after successfully overcoming China with a narrow 1-0 victory in the Asian Zone Group C of the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers. Garuda’s only goal was scored by Ole Romeny from the penalty spot at the end of the first half, propelling Indonesia to third place in the standings and keeping their hopes alive for advancing to the next round.

First Half: Intense Duel and Decisive Goal

From the opening whistle, the atmosphere at GBK was electric. Indonesia pressed high with a combination of quick attacks led by Egy Maulana Vikri, Ricky Kambuaya, and Ole Romeny. The first real chance came from Kambuaya, whose long-range shot narrowly missed. China responded with several dangerous counterattacks, but Indonesia’s defense, marshaled by Jay Idzes and Rizky Ridho, remained disciplined.

The peak of tension arrived in the 44th minute. Ricky Kambuaya was brought down in the box by a Chinese defender, prompting the referee to award a penalty after a VAR review. Ole Romeny stepped up as the taker and calmly sent Wang Dalei the wrong way, giving Indonesia a 1-0 lead just before halftime.

Second Half: Audero Shines, Garuda Holds Firm

After the break, China increased the pressure. However, debutant Emil Audero remained composed and made several crucial saves, including parrying a powerful shot from a Chinese attacker that threatened Indonesia’s goal. Garuda shifted to a more defensive approach to protect their lead but still managed to create dangerous chances through Calvin Verdonk’s low crosses and the lively runs of Beckham Putra, who came on for Ricky Kambuaya.

Kevin Diks, another second-half substitute, nearly doubled the lead with a fierce shot, but the Chinese goalkeeper was up to the task. Meanwhile, Indonesia’s back line stayed organized, thwarting every golden opportunity China created until the final whistle.

A Vital Win for Qualification Hopes

This three-point haul brings Indonesia’s total to 12 points from nine matches, moving them up to third place and overtaking Saudi Arabia, who have 10 points. The victory also extends Garuda’s positive run after previously defeating Bahrain.

On the other hand, this loss further dims China’s chances of progressing to the next stage. Indonesia now only needs to maintain consistency in their two remaining matches to secure a ticket to the next round.

Ole Romeny and Emil Audero: Stars of the Match

Ole Romeny once again proved his sharpness as Garuda’s main striker. In addition to scoring the decisive goal, he repeatedly troubled China’s defense with his movement and excellent linkup play with Egy Maulana Vikri. Emil Audero, making his debut, immediately caught the spotlight with a brilliant performance between the posts, keeping a clean sheet in this crucial match.

Conclusion

The 1-0 win over China is further proof that the Indonesian national team is increasingly mature and ready to compete at the highest level in Asia. Ole Romeny’s penalty and Emil Audero’s solid display were the keys to Garuda’s success at GBK. The dream of advancing to the next round remains alive, and Indonesian football fans can once again feel proud of the team’s fighting spirit.