YANGON (10 Sept 2011) – Vietnam snatched a valuable one point over hosts Myanmar following a 1-1 draw as Laos made it all too easy to blast Brunei 7-0 in the second match of Group B of the AFF Under-19 Championship.
In the match that was played at the Youth Training Centre, the heavy rain just before the start of the game did not deter the spirit of both teams to showcase their talents before an expecting crowd of at least 10,000.
“The Vietnamese keeper (Nguyen Son Hai) played really well where he denied several of our chances. But this happen in football, we conceded an own goal and then scored the equaliser at the end,” said Gerd Horst, the chief coach of Vietnam.
“I’m satisfied with the performance but I’ not satisfied with the performance of some of the players where we made several mistakes.”
While Vietnam pressed, it was Myanmar who created the better chances where in the ninth minute, a freekick from Naing Ko Lin came off the crossbar while six minutes later, it was striker Soe Paing Thway’s turn to miss.
Myanmar’s frustration continued in the 29th minute, when a header from captain Thiah Zaw came off the upright.
Vietnam then replied with a Nguyen Xuan Nam’s glancing header off a cross from Vo Huy Toan but the former missed his target altogether.
Just when everything seems to be heading for a deadlock at the half, a long ball from the midfield saw the Mynamar defence scrambling to clear but it came off defender Naing Ko Lin instead to trickle into goal – causing instant silence at the stand.
The second half continued in much the same way as it had been in the first half with Myanmar hunting for the equaliser and their first goal in the competition.
As Vietnam seemed content to defend, Myanmar trudged on with a shot from substitute Kyaw Zay Ya in the 76th minute which forced an outstretched save from Son Hai.
Five minutes later, it was Phyo Maung Maung Kyaw’s turn to be denied.
But just two minutes to the end, a freekick from the right was met perfectly by the waiting Yan Naing Htwe at the far post for the well-deserved equaliser.
“We played well considering that we were playing against the hosts. One point is better than losing all three,” said Trieu Quang Ha, the chief coach of Vietnam.
“It was difficult to play against Myanmar as they were fast and strong. They created a lot of chances in the first half but they could not score so we are satisfied with the draw.”
At the Aung San Stadium, Laos hauled their first three points of the competition with a 7-0 thrashing of Brunei.
The younger Brunei squad stood out for long periods in the first half before conceding their first goal in the 40th minute off Sitthideth Khanthavong.
After that it was all Laos as Lembo Saysana then scorched a hat trick (44th, 45th and 75th minute) to be followed by Souliya Syphasay (58th minute), Souksadakone Liepvisay (60th) and Phouthasin Luang Amath (74th).
PIX: Union Minister for Sports Ministry Tint San (in white shirt) leading the VIP entourage to be introduced to the players of both Myanmar and Vietnam before the start of the game.
GROUPINGS
Group A: Thailand, Singapore, Philippines, Malaysia, Cambodia
Group B: Myanmar, Indonesia, Laos, Vietnam, Brunei DS
RESULTS and FIXTURES
8 Sept: LAOS 3 INDONESIA 3 / BRUNEI DS 0 VIETNAM 7
9 Sept: PHILIPPINES 1 SINGAPORE 1 / CAMBODIA 0 MALAYSIA 0
10 Sept: VIETNAM 1 MYANMAR 1 / BRUNEI DS 0 LAOS 7
11 Sept: Malaysia vs Thailand (1530, Youth Training Centre) / Cambodia vs Philippines (1530, Aung San Stadium)
12 Sept: Myanmar vs Brunei DS (1530, Youth Training Centre) / Indonesia vs Vietnam (1530, Aung San Stadium)
13 Sept: Thailand vs Cambodia (1530, Youth Training Centre) / Singapore vs Malaysia (1530, Aung San Stadium)
14 Sept: Brunei DS vs Indonesia (1530, Aung San Stadium) / Laos vs Myanmar (1530, Youth Training Centre)
15 Sept: Cambodia vs Singapore (1530, Youth Training Centre) / Philippines vs Thailand (1530, Aung San Stadium)
16 Sept: Vietnam vs Laos (1530, Aung San Stadium) / Indonesia vs Myanmar (1530, Youth Training Centre)
17 Sept: Malaysia vs Philippines (1530, Youth Training Centre) / Singapore vs Thailand (1530, Aung San Stadium)
18 Sept: Rest Day
19 Sept: Winner A vs Runner-up B (1530) / Winner B vs Runner-up A (1810)
20 Sept: Rest Day
21 Sept: 3rd/4th Placing (1530) / Final (1810)
