AFF WOMEN’S: Vietnam Take Group A; Philippines Beat Singapore

HO CHI MINH CITY (17 Sept 2012) – Vietnam scored a psychological victory this evening when they beat ten-women Myanmar 2-1 in an all-tempered match to win Group A of the AFF Women’s Championship.

With the three points, Vietnam finished the group stage on top with nine points out of three matches while Myanmar take the runners-up spot with six points.

“The players showed a lot more spirit and I think that we deserved to win the game today,” said Chen Yun Fa. “This type of game was always going to be full of emotions. I just thought that we were a lit bit luckier than Myanmar.”

The decisive match in the group was always going to be close as both teams were eager to emerge on top in the standings to better their chance in the semi-finals. But it was Vietnam, who have been under pressure to show more confidence playing at home, who showed the early aggressions.

And with Myanmar still looking for a firm footing, the homesters went ahead in the 11^th minute when referee Kate Jacewicz of Australia awarded them a penalty. Tran Thi Kim Hong’s attempt was blocked by Myanmar custodian May Khin Ya Min but unfortunately for her, Kim Hong still managed a second stab at the ball for the lead.

As compared to their last two matches, the Vietnam girls put up perhaps their best performance thus far as they passed the ball around to full effect. But the more physically stronger Myanmar side would not give up easily where they only needed to draw the game to take the group.

Vietnam were again in search of the killer blow and in the 33^rd minute, they came close with a header from Nguyen Thi Tuyet Dung off a square from Nguyen Thi Xuyen which came off the crossbar.

Six minutes later, Myanmar grabbed the equaliser with a glancing header from San San Maw to push the game up a notch.

With the score tied at the break, the game became even more physical and in the 66^th minute, Jacewicz gave a red card to Myanmar’s Zae Chi Oo for a clash against Nguyen Thi Xuyen.

But the drama did not end there as a minute later, Myanmar earned a penalty but San Maw blasted the ball straight to Vietnam keepe Dang Thi-Kieu Trinh.

That failure to grab the lead saw Vietnam became even more confident and in the 78^th minute, they went ahead again when Chuong Thi Kieu pounced on a poor clearance from May Khin.

In the meantime the Philippines avoided the wooden spoonist tage when they beat Singapore 7-2, in a match that had no bearing to the final standings.

Heather Cooke scored a brace with goals in the 37^th,55^th and 57^th minute with the rest being scored by Patrice Impelido in the 19^th minute, Marice Magdolot (75^th), Samanta Nierras (76^th) and Abigail Komarc (90^th).

But the game was also marked by the two goals scored by Singapore – their first in three matches – off striker Kamaliah Hashim in the 71^st and 77^th minute.

 

AFF WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP 2012

(All matches at Thong Nhat Stadium)

GROUP A: Vietnam, Myanmar, Singapore, Philippines

GROUP B: Thailand, Laos, Malaysia