Maarten Paes Shines in Indonesia Debut, Saves Crucial Penalty

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FC Dallas goalkeeper Maarten Paes made a memorable international debut for Indonesia by saving a penalty in a 1-1 draw against Saudi Arabia on Thursday in the nation's opening match of World Cup qualification.

Paes, who gained Indonesian citizenship earlier this year, was a standout performer in Jeddah, making three key saves, including a penalty stop in the 79th minute. His efforts helped Indonesia secure a valuable point against the Asian football powerhouse.

Indonesia took an early lead in the 19th minute through Ragnar Oratmangoen, but Saudi Arabia equalized just before halftime with a deflected shot by Musab Al-Juwayr. Paes' heroics continued into stoppage time, where he made a crucial 1v1 save to deny Firas Al-Buraikan and preserve the draw.

Paes' performance was praised by his club, FC Dallas, who shared highlights of his key moments on social media, expressing excitement for his achievement. Indonesia’s next match in their World Cup qualifying campaign will be against Australia on Tuesday, Sept. 10, in Jakarta.

While Paes will miss FC Dallas' upcoming match against Vancouver Whitecaps, he is expected to return for the team’s clash against Real Salt Lake on Sept. 18.