Jakarta. Indonesia lost 0-1 to Bulgaria in the FIFA Series 2026 final after a first-half penalty proved decisive, with the European side’s disciplined defending neutralizing sustained pressure from the hosts.

Marin Petkov scored from the spot in the 36th minute, giving Bulgaria the lead heading into halftime.

Indonesia pushed aggressively after the break, with head coach John Herdman making early tactical adjustments. Ivar Jenner was introduced for Ramadhan Sananta to inject creativity into midfield.

The home side nearly gifted Bulgaria a second goal in the 54th minute when a back pass from Kevin Diks almost fell to an opposing player, but goalkeeper Emil Audero managed to avert the danger.

Indonesia continued to press, creating several chances as the second half wore on. In the 71st minute, a delivery from Elkan Baggott found Ole Romeny, but his effort sailed over the crossbar.

Seeking a breakthrough, Herdman made another attacking change in the 78th minute, bringing on Beckham Putra for Joey Pelupessy as Indonesia ramped up the tempo.

Indonesia dominated possession in the closing stages, repeatedly probing Bulgaria’s compact defensive line. However, the visitors held firm, crowding their penalty area and limiting clear scoring opportunities.

The best chance came in the 86th minute when Rizky Ridho fired from inside the box, only to see his shot parried by the Bulgarian goalkeeper.

Bulgaria slowed the pace in the final minutes to disrupt Indonesia’s rhythm, successfully preserving their narrow lead through four minutes of added time.

Indonesia’s struggled to convert possession into goals, while Bulgaria capitalized on a single opportunity and relied on a disciplined defensive approach to secure victory.

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