Soccer System: Legendary Goalkeeper

Chapter 153 - Indonesia Vs. Italia

5 July 2026, Akron Stadium, Guadalajara, Mexico.

The stadium with a capacity of approximately 50,000 spectators has been filled by the sea of red and also the sea of blue, echoing excited cries.

This match is an important one for Italy, but for Indonesia, it is not too important because Indonesia has ensured its ticket to qualify until the knockout phase of the round of sixteen.

Even so, the match between Indonesia and Italy in the 2026 World Cup was quite tense. Indonesian goalkeeper Reza Kusuma showed his greatness by making some outstanding saves so that Italy struggled to score goals.

In fact, Italy really desperately need a goal to ensure victory. One goal would change everything, but it's like looking for a needle in a haystack, so hard to break into Reza's goal.

Italy did not give up. They continued to suppress the Indonesian defense with regular attacks. The Indonesian defense led by Ferrari, Kakang, and Haikal was very solid and was able to anticipate the Italian attack well.

In midfield, Marselino showed his creativity by making some accurate passes to the front. Robi showed his resilience in defence and Todd Ferre played with incredible pace and skill on the left side.

On the right side, Kwateh displayed his speed and technique, making it difficult for Italian players to stop him. In front, Egy, Sananta and Witan played with passion to score against Italy.

In the 30th minute, Sananta gained the ball in the middle of the field and made a pass to Witan who ran on the right side. Witan quickly passed the ball to Egy on the left. Egy then released his left-footed kick that shot into the top corner of the Italian goal and could not be reached by the Italian goalkeeper, Donnarumma.

"GOOOOOOOALL!!!" the screams of the stadium crowd rumbled. The Indonesian team managed to score the first goal in this match and led the score 1-0, making the hope for Italy feel completely dashed.

Italy tried to retaliate with their attacks. However, the Indonesian defence remained solid and Reza Kusuma managed to secure his goal until the whistle of the mark ended the first half.

The match that was supposed to run 45 minutes was very short because both teams were so hot to score, Indonesia should not really need to win this, he said, they are focused on scoring goals for the victory.

“We got ahead of them in the first round!” marselino said with a big smile on her face.

“We have to keep doing that in the second half later!” todd Ferre said while giving high-five to his friends.

Reza Kusuma, the young goalkeeper who became a star in this match in the first half that saved many kicks from Italy, looks very happy with his performance. “I don't care about ensuring tickets, victory is very necessary for perfection in competing!” yells.

The dramatic and tense match in the first half ended with Indonesia's 1-0 lead over Italy. The Indonesian team managed to show their strength and spirit and were ready to resume the second half with all kinds of plans that they would make.

“You are already very good, just lower the intensity of the attack, focus on defense!” coach Tae-yong.

“Good, Coach!” At once all the players in the dressing room exclaimed, they showed a pretty happy look on their faces.

Although ordered to lower the intensity of the game and focus on defense, it seems they become dissident and hungry for goals.

Coach Tae-yong on the sidelines just shook his head resignedly while muttering, “You guys are so excited, just be aware if the big sixteen weaken!”

Judging from what the Indonesian players did, they intend to achieve the second goal again, a sense of satisfaction they have not felt.

“Reza, come here, I'm empty!” exciting Marselino.

Reza, who stood outside the box, was controlling the ball immediately gave a breakthrough pass past Zaniolo.

The ball rolled quickly to Marselino, in a split second later, Marselino shifted the ball to his left side where Todd Ferre was moving without the ball there.

This attack coincided in the 75th minute, it was so coordinated very neat, until the Italian players themselves began to struggle to handle the Indonesian attack.

With one-two lures on display, a special called tiki-taka, that is the style of playing the ball with short passes between players and conditioned with the flow of the ball randomly but still moving with the target approaching the opponent's goal.

This is a Garuda-style tiki-taka, with fast passes relying on speed and agility, passes round the opponent to be able to penetrate the defense.

Italy, completely overwhelmed by this tactic, however, painstakingly tried to do everything they could until a fatal foul happened just in front of the box.

Reza, who at that time made a one-two pass with Witan, was immediately pulled away uncompromisingly by Bastoni so that Reza did not increasingly thrust into the penalty box.

“Stupid! You guys make the score will turn into 2-0!!!” shouted the coach of the Italian national team, Mancini.

“Huh?!! Jeez, I forgot the executor!” bastoni cried while on his knees regretting his actions.

“Heh, so, yes?” reza Gumam.

Reza stood behind the ball, staring at the goal guarded by Donnarumma, smiling so mysteriously, this is the action of Reza who is the umpteenth time in executing free kicks.

When the referee blew the whistle, some players started to move, meanwhile, Reza also stepped quickly, his body leaning forward with his best swipe.

The left leg is swung, the instep of the foot really hit hard on the surface of the ball, making the ball crash through the player's fence. It doesn't stop there, it's a strange spinning ball, it's a legendary knuckle shoot technique.

Reza was able to show his kick once again, Donnarumma who kept the goal not warted and just stared at the ball into the goal he was controlling.

“GOOOAAALL!!” The stadium exploded with its extremely hearing-disrupting scream.

A very unlucky goal for the Italians, with this they could only be bowed lethargic while kicking the ball in annoyance. Their eyes were staring at the stadium, the Italian supporters were just sitting in a doldrums.

Italy, will not be able to get into the knockout phase, with this, the small possibility they are chasing will be very difficult, especially with Reza being the goalkeeper under the crossbar.

Two defeats and one draw, which is really embarrassing, even though Italy have only entered the world cup since 2014, starting from 2018 and 2022, they did not enter because they lost in qualifying.

It is a presence that is like entertainment, it is heartbreaking to make them in the remaining minutes of the game just limped off without hope anymore.

“Yap ... Just got here, but they fell right away, I'm kind of sorry. However, Indonesia, just present directly brings a surprise!” reza Gumam.

The match between Indonesia and Italy ended in a 2-0 victory for Indonesia and with this they completed the group phase without defeat or draw.

Conceded just one in these three games, the team conceded the least, on average the team in the other group, they conceded two to more goals in a total of three games.

“Prepare yourself, Indonesia face Spain on July 11, they are reinforced by the best young players as well!” obviously Coach Tae-yong.

“Spain! We defeat the invaders!” exclaim Reza with a joke.

With this, group B finished the match, Argentina faced Germany, won by Argentina with a score of 3-1, so the Tango team advanced to the round of sixteen.