PHNOM PENH (28 July 2015) – Myanmar and hosts Cambodia got their campaign in Group B off on the right note when they each overcame their opponents to pick up the full points in the AFF BIDC Under-16 Championship here at the National Olympic Stadium.
A follow-up to the rousing start by teams from Group A yesterday, the afternoon began with Myanmar coasting past Singapore 3-1 before the hosts edged the Philippines 1-0 in the second game of the day.
The artificial turf seems to add that little extra juice on the fast, attacking Myanmar style of play as the triumvirate of Hein Htet Aung, Htet Phyoe Wai and Win Naing Tun ran the Singapore backline ragged.
It was Pyae Sone Naing who tested Singapore custodian Kevin Wong early in the tenth minute with a scorcher that was blocked before they duly took the lead two minutes later.
An unmarked Htet Aung found himself with the ball at his feet inside the box and he certainly did not disappoint as he blasted the ball well beyond the reach of Kevin for the lead.
Singapore fought back with a well-taken freekick from Jordan Vestering in the 34th minute before Myanmar put their noses in front once again five minutes later, with a cross from Htet Aung that was nodded home by Naing Tun.
There was no let-up in the Myanmar game in the second half as they maintained pressure at the top while maintaining their composure at the back.
With Singapore unable to get any which way at the centre of the park, Myanmar then made sure of the full points with their third goal off a rebounder from Phyoe Wai.
“I thought that we did well to keep possession,” said Myanmar coach Eric Williams afterwards. “We created a lot of chances and we got the goals that we wanted. But we should not have allowed Singapore to score the equalizer.”
In the second game of the group that was attended by more than 15,000 screaming fans, Cambodia gave the loyalists including Football Federation of Cambodia President, General Sao Sokha something to cheer at the stand with a hard-fought 1-0 win over the Philippines.
Buoyed by their positive recent trip to Japan, the Cambodian lads were oozing with confidence with midfielder Ath Ontoch despite his small stature easily the crowd favourites.
As hard as they tried to look for the lead, the Philippines just seem to rode their luck as the crosses came in from the left and also from the right off Tray Vicheth and San Kimheng.
With the score tied scoreless at the half, Teat Kimheng finally pushed the fans to their feet when he made good off the hardwork from San Kimheng from the left to beat Philippines keeper Jessie Semblante.
AFF BIDC U16 CHAMPIONSHIP
RESULTS
Singapore 1 Myanmar 3
Philippines 0 Cambodia 1
FIXTURES
29 July 2015
1530 – Laos vs Timor Leste (Army Stadium)
1530 – Brunei DS vs Vietnam (National Olympic Stadium)
1830 – Thailand vs Malaysia (National Olympic Stadium)
