TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Shin Tae-Yong is optimistic that the Indonesia U-23 national team is now able to reach the finals of the AFC U-23 Asian Cup after defeating South Korea in the quarter-finals. He said that the victory motivates the players to achieve a better result.

Indonesia's U-23 national team defeated South Korea in the quarterfinals of the AFC U-23 Asian Cup on Friday, April 26. Indonesia won the match at the Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium in Doha, Qatar, 11-10 on penalty kicks after the teams played to a 2-2 draw for 120 minutes.

With the result, Shin Tae-yong said Indonesia's U-23 team has a chance of winning the 2024 AFC U-23 Asian Cup. "I can't say that we can't win the championship," he said in the post-match press conference.

"Of course, we can reach the final. It gives us confidence and we are capable of reaching the last four," added the 53-year-old coach.

The tactician, known locally as STY, admitted he had mixed feelings. On the one hand, he was happy to have led Indonesia's U-23 side to the semi-finals, as he had set out to do at the start of the tournament. On the other hand, as a South Korean, he was saddened to have to defeat his own country.

"I am very happy, but on the other hand, it is very sad and difficult. The winner has to be determined and now I am responsible for the Indonesian team. I have to do my best for Indonesia," he said.

The success of the Indonesian U-23 national team in qualifying for the semi-finals has opened up the possibility of winning tickets to the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. The Garuda team will automatically qualify for the Olympics if they reach the final round or win the third-place match. However, should they fail to do so, they can still earn a ticket by playing Guinea, the fourth-placed team at the 2024 U-23 Africa Cup of Nations.

Indonesia will face Uzbekistan in the semifinals of the AFC U-23 Asian Cup.

Randy Fauzi Febriansyah

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