December 4, 2024
JAKARTA – The Indonesia women’s national soccer team has secured a spot in the final of the 2024 ASEAN Soccer Federation (AFF) Women’s Cup for the first time in history, after crushing Singapore 3-0 on Monday at the New Laos National Stadium in Vientiane.
Indonesia controlled the match from the kickoff, with attacking midfielder Sydney Hopper contributing greatly to the team’s early dominance and Claudia Scheunemann scoring a stunning, long-range goal in the 6th minute.
The team continued to press Singapore, and Reva Octaviani extended Indonesia’s lead with a powerful shot just before halftime.
In the second half, the Garudas maintained their offensive pressure and in the final moments of the match, substitute Octavianti Nurmalita clinched the team’s overwhelming victory with a third goal in the 4th minute of injury time.
Indonesia is up against host country Cambodia in the final on Thursday.
The Garudas’ best record the AFF Women’s Cup was achieved in 2007, when they placed fourth overall.
Monday’s victory over Singapore has propelled Indonesia to this year’s AFF Women’s Cup final as well as qualified it to play in the tournament’s 2025 edition, which has been rebranded the ASEAN Women’s Soccer Championship.
The 2025 tournament presents a meeting of the top three teams from the 2024 AFF Women’s Cup and the five best teams from the 2022 AFF Women’s Cup, meaning that Indonesia will compete with Australia, the Philippines, Thailand, Myanmar and Vietnam.
Soccer Association of Indonesia (PSSI) chairman Erick Thohir expressed exuberance and pride in the team’s achievement.
“Final! The Indonesia women’s national team has successfully advanced to the final of the 2024 AFF Women’s Cup after beating Singapore in the semifinals,” Erick posted to his official Instagram account on Monday.