AFF U16: LAOS CELEBRATE OPENING WIN IN FRONT OF 10,000 FANS

VIENTIANE (9 July 2011) – Laos lived up to the hopes of over 10,000 fans at the National Sports Complex here to deliver a stunning 2-0 win over 10-man Timor Leste in their opening AFF Under-16 Group A match tonight.

Victory did not come easy as the hosts took some time to settle down and take control of the game, but when they did they had the crowd screaming in delight. It was not surprising that the Laos team started off strongly tonight.

With such sound support, the players were fired up the moment they stepped on the pitch. Within minutes of the start, the Laos players were already chasing down their opponents. However, despite all their efforts, Laos failed to find the mark in the first half.

Numerous chances were wasted as their forwards failed to keep their shots on target. Timor Leste then lost their skipper Eusebio Pereira who was sacked for a overzealous tackle on Armisay Kettavong late in the first half. Everything changed after the break when Anousay Nyavong made his header count.

Sounthavone Thammada doubled the score in the 70th minute to seal the win for the home side. The victory also sent Laos to the top of the group with three points while Malaysia and Indonesia are second with two points from two draws.

With so many fans cheering them on, it was no surprise the Laos players took charge of the game. Within two minutes, Laos were already knocking on their opponent’s goal but Xouxana Sihalath was unable to get beat keeper Francisco Gusmao in a one-to-one challenge.

A minute on and Laos were causing more problems but this time Sisawad Dalavong’s swept right across the goalmouth. All it needed was a nudge but the other strikers were just a step too far. Sisawad should have made it count in 10th minute but he failed to neatly connect a solid cross from teammate Armisay from the right.

One of the host’s best chances came midway through the half when Thanin Phanthavong’s thundering freekick was pushed out.

Timor Leste were reduced to 10-men after their skipper Eusebio was red carded for a nasty tackle on Armisay, who had to be replaced. Laos ended the half the same way they started it, with yet another miss.

With time up, Anoukone Keola was free at the top of the box but his shot sailed just wide to the despair of the fans. There were many more misses in the game, but that was after Laos finally broke the deadlock in the 51st minute. Anoukone picked out his man in the box and coolly crossed for Anousay to head Laos ahead.

The hosts continued to push up in numbers but they were faced by a string of more misses. In the 70th minute, the fans had one more reason to celebrate when Sounthavone hit the target.

“We did not play well in the first half but we improved in the second. Winning the three points in the opening match in front of our own fans was very important,” added Han Hyong Il, the chief coach of Laos.

“You saw the game. We need to do a lot of improvements for the next match,” added Norio Tsuitate, the chief coach of Timor Leste.

“I have no complain of the red card. The decision of the referee is final.”

TIMOR LESTE: Francisco Gusmao (GK), Mioses Pina Goncalves, Domingos Ramos Freitas, Candido Monteiro De Oliveira, Januario Da Costa De Jesus, Eusebio Pereira (Cpt), Ezaquel Dos Santos, Francyatma Alves Ima Kefi, Jorge Manuel Alves, Jose Dos Santos, Carlos Fatima Da Costa

Coach: Norio Tsukitate

Goalscorers:

Yellow: nil

Red: Eusebio Pereira (36th)

LAOS:Vathana Keoduangdeth (GK), Xouxana Sihalath, Kitsana Seangdouangphachan, Armisay Kettavong, Anoukone Keola, Thanin Phanthavong, Sonevilay Sihavong, Sisawad Dalavong, Chittakone Sithanong (Cpt), Sisongkan Thorlatha, Saisongkham Sumphonphukdee

Coach: Han Yong Il

Goalscorers:Anousay Nyavong (51st), Sounthavone Thammada (70th)

Yellow:nil

Red: nil

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: U Win Htut (Mya)

Assistant Referee 1: Kywadhana Yean (Cam)

Assistant Referee 2: U Mohamad Faizal Abas (Sin)

Fourth Official: Sukhbir Singh

Match Commissioner: Yeh Htut Tin (Mya)

Referee Assessor: Mohd Rodzali Yaacob (Mas)

General Coordinator: U Tin Aung (Mya)

Group A – Laos, Thailand, Malaysia, Timor Leste, Indonesia

Group B – Myanmar, Vietnam, Singapore, Cambodia, Philippines