Indonesia winless at Asia Cup qualification

Non-qualifier Indonesia finished its Asia Cup group stage without a win after losing its last match against Australia at Brisbane’s Suncorp stadium on Wednesday.

Needing only a draw to qualify for the finals in Qatar next year, Australia piled pressure on the Indonesian opposition from the start, but scored the only goal just three minutes before the half time. Mark Mulligan slammed home a rebound underneath Indonesian goalkeeper Markus Horison after his attempt to latch on to a free-kick hit the woodwork.

The victory gave Australia 11 points from six matches and handed Indonesia its third defeat. The other slot to the Cup finals will be decided in the other match now underway in Oman between the home side and Kuwait.

Indonesia had already crashed out of the continental soccer competition for the first time since 1996 following a 2-1 defeat to Oman at home on Jan. 6.