Two killed, four injured in football final stampede

JAKARTA—The Southeast Asian Games was to close Tuesday with sporting success for Indonesia overshadowed by a stampede at the headline football final which left at least two people dead and a young boy in a coma.

With final preparations under way for Tuesday night’s closing ceremony in Palembang, the event was tarnished by the tragedy in co-host city Jakarta where the hosts played bitter rivals Malaysia for the football gold late Monday.

Two victims died in a crush before the match when stadium gates were opened and the crowd surged to get in, police said, adding that a boy taken to hospital had slipped into a coma. Four were injured.

Games organizers had warned of the potential for flash points ahead of the highly anticipated final—which defending champions Malaysia won 4-3 on penalties after the teams were tied at 1-1 after extra time.

Monday night’s events took the sheen off a glittering Games for the hosts.

The gold most craved by the home fans was in football, but instead they endured heartbreak as Malaysia’s captain Baddrol Bakhtiar scored the winning penalty, following two missed shots by Indonesia.

The visitors showed their mettle by coming back from a goal down to pull the rug from under the Indonesians.