Jakarta. Indonesia reached the inaugural FIFA ASEAN Cup final in extraordinary fashion Thursday night, crushing Bangladesh 9-2 and edging Malaysia for top spot in Group A only on goals scored.

Five goals from Mitchell Baker powered the hosts to the emphatic victory at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, but even a seven-goal winning margin was barely enough as Malaysia simultaneously demolished Singapore 6-0 in Bandung.

Indonesia and Malaysia finished level on seven points and an identical goal difference of plus nine.

The decisive tiebreaker was goals scored: Indonesia had 11 across its three group matches, two more than Malaysia's nine.

Indonesia had previously beaten Singapore 2-0 and drawn Malaysia 0-0, while Malaysia defeated Bangladesh 3-0 before the goalless draw with Indonesia and Thursday's six-goal rout of Singapore.

Malaysia remarkably completed the group stage without conceding a goal but still finished runner-up.

Indonesia will face Thailand in Monday's final in Jakarta. Thailand secured the Group B title with a game to spare after victories over Pakistan and Vietnam.

Under the tournament format, the two group winners advance to the final, while the runners-up meet in the third-place playoff.

Stoppage-Time Drama
Knowing that goals could determine qualification, Indonesia attacked relentlessly from the start and raced to a 6-1 halftime lead.

Baker scored four times in the opening half, with Rizky Ridho and Justin Hubner also finding the net.

But events became increasingly tense as news filtered through that Malaysia was scoring repeatedly against Singapore in Bandung.

Luke Vickery made it 7-1 in the 90th minute, before Farhaan Ali Wahid pulled another goal back for Bangladesh in stoppage time.

With Malaysia winning 6-0, Bangladesh's second goal threatened Indonesia's grip on first place.

Indonesia responded dramatically.

Kevin Diks struck in the 90+6th minute before Baker completed his five-goal performance a minute later, sealing the 9-2 victory and Indonesia's place in the final.

Baker scored in the 11th, 20th, 37th, 42nd and 90+7th minutes. Rizky Ridho, Hubner, Vickery and Diks supplied Indonesia's other four goals.

Mohammed Shahriar Emon and Farhaan scored for Bangladesh.

“This is the craziest match I've ever experienced,” Indonesia coach John Herdman said.

While directing his players in Jakarta, the English coach also had to keep track of events hundreds of kilometers away in Bandung, where Malaysia's goals kept changing Indonesia's qualification equation.

“We really couldn't understand how Malaysia could be beating Singapore 6-0,” Herdman said.

Indonesia now has the opportunity to make more history on home soil by winning the first FIFA ASEAN Cup, with Thailand standing between the Garuda and the inaugural title.

Indonesia: Emil Audero (GK); Kevin Diks, Rizky Ridho (Luke Vickery 60'), Elkan Baggott, Justin Hubner, Joey Pelupessy, Calvin Verdonk, Ivar Jenner (Dean James 73'), Mitchell Baker, Ole Romeny, Ragnar Oratmangoen (Egy Maulana Vikri 73').

Coach: John Herdman.

Bangladesh: Mehedi Hasan Srabon (GK); Jamal Bhuyan, Hamza Choudhury, Itofusa Shuki (Farhaan Ali Wahid 46'), Rakib Hossain, Sahariar Emon (Minhaz Shadin 46'; Shakil Ahad Topu 74'), Zidane Yousuf, Tariq Kazi, Zayyan Ahmed, Saad Uddin, Shamit Shome (Sohel Rana 27').

Coach: Thomas Dooley.

Add as a preferred source on Google +