Indonesia thrash Brunei Darussalam in World Cup qualifiers

Indonesia took a two-goal lead at half-time.

Indonesia cruised to a 6-0 victory over Brunei Darussalam in the first leg of the Preliminary Joint Qualification Round 1 for the FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™ at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium on Thursday.

Early goals from Dimas Drajad and Rizky Ridho had the hosts 2-0 up at half-time before substitute Ramadhan Sananta added a brace after the restart.

Dimas netted his second with a little under 20 minutes to play and his hat-trick in stoppage time to wrap up a comfortable night for the Indonesians.

The Garuda got off to a flying start as they took the lead in the seventh minute when Asnawi Mangkualam’s deep cross was headed onto the post by 19-year-old debutant Hokky Caraka and Dimas was on hand to tap home from close range.

Shin Tae-yong’s side continued to push forward and Dimas got to the byline before pulling the ball back for Marc Klok, whose shot from just outside the area was well tipped over by Brunei's keeper Haimie Nyaring.

And Indonesia then doubled their advantage in the 12th minute when Rizky volleyed in Saddil Ramdani’s inswinging corner from the right.

The hosts kept piling on the pressure and Sandy Walsh was next to try his luck, but the Belgium-based midfielder saw his attempt from inside the area well blocked as the difference remained just two goals at the interval.

Indonesia began the second half in similar fashion to the first and captain Asnawi’s cross from the right was headed narrowly wide by Hokky at the back post less than two minutes after the restart.

But the result was put beyond doubt in the 62nd minute when Walsh broke into the box from the left and was brought down by Nazhan Zulkilfe. The referee pointed to the spot and substitute Ramadhan made no mistake, planting his penalty into the bottom right corner.

Ramadhan then scored his second midway through the half, heading into the back of the net from just a few yards out after Nyaring could only parry Ricky Kambuaya’s shot from the edge of the area.

The fifth goal arrived just five minutes later, this time when Ramdani’s cross from the right was firmly headed home by Dimas for his second of the night.

Ramadhan was denied his hat-trick when his header was pushed wide by a flying save from Nyaring as the game entered its final 10 minutes.

And it was Dimas who ended the game with three goals to his name after creating space for himself in the box with some neat footwork and then finding the bottom right corner with a well-placed finish in the 92nd minute.

The two sides will meet again for the second leg in the Brunei capital Bandar Seri Begawan on Tuesday, October 17.