SINGAPORE: Indonesia are a step closer to reaching their first Asean Football Federation (AFF) Suzuki Cup final since 2004.
On Thursday night, the three-time runners-up beat this year's surprise package the Philippines 1-0 in the first leg of their semi-final clash at Jakarta's Gelora Bung Karno Stadium.
Uruguayan-born forward Cristian Gonzalez scored the only goal after 32 minutes, heading in off the post and into an empty net from close range after a mix-up between Filipino goalkeeper Neil Etheridge and defender Ray Jonsson.
The Philippines came closest to equalising in the 75th minute, when James Younghusband's acrobatic effort was headed off the line by defender Zulkifli Syukur.
Indonesia's best showing at the biennial competition were three successive runner-up finishes in 2000, 2002 and 2004, while the Philippines have never reached the last four of the tournament's seven previous editions.
The two sides meet again in the second leg this Sunday in Jakarta again as Manila does not have a suitable venue, while the other semi-final sees defending champions Vietnam seeking to overturn a 2-0 deficit against Malaysia in the second leg of their semi-final in Hanoi on Saturday.
The two-leg final is scheduled for December 26 and 29
