FIRST WIN FOR MALAYSIA AND THAILAND; MYANMAR ON SIX POINTS

YANGON (25 June 2012) – Malaysia and Thailand scored their first win in the AFC Under-22 Asian Cup qualifiers tonight with the former pummeling the Philippines 7-0 in Group G in Yangon whereas the latter thrashed Cambodia 4-0 in Group F in Vientiane.

The win was a welcome boost to both teams after they suffered losses on the first match day two days earlier. At the same time, Myanmar showed their determination to win a place in the final round when they picked up their second win in as many matches.

In Yangon, hosts Myanmar built on their first win over the Philippines on the first match day to beat Vietnam 3-1 on the night. But the game was anything but easy for the home team where they had to come back from a goal down following Nguyen Van Quyet’s early strike in the 15^th minute.

Zaw Min Tun was on target with the equaliser in the 33^rd minute before Nanda LinKyaw Chit then gave Myanmar the lead seven minutes later for the score to stand at 2-1 at the half.

And in front of 15,000 screaming fans, Kyi Lin then wrapped up the full points for Myanmar with their third goal of the game on 70 minute. With the win, Myanmar are on second in the standings with six points – the same as leaders Korea Republic who tonight blasted Chinese Taipei 8-1.

Third is Malaysia, who picked up first three points of the qualifiers following their 7-0 win over the Philippines. Mohd Rozaimi Abdul Rahman nailed four goals in the game with strikes in the 2^nd, 35^th, 74^th and 69^th minute penalty. The remainder of Malaysia’s goals were scored by Mohd Fandi Othman in the 32^nd minute, Wan Zaharulnizam Zakari (40^th minute) and D. Saarvindran (90^th).

CURRENT GROUP G STANDINGS

*Team*	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	*Pts*
KOREA REPUBLIC	2	2	0	0	11	3	8	6
MYANMAR	2	2	0	0	8	2	6	6
MALAYSIA	2	1	0	1	9	3	6	3
CHINESE TAIPEI	2	1	0	1	3	9	-6	3
PHILIPPINES	2	0	0	2	1	12	-11	0
VIETNAM	2	0	0	2	2	5	-3	0

In Vientiane, Thailand scored an emphatic 4-0 win over Cambodia for their first three points in the qualifiers. Thitiphan Puangjan opened account in the 33rdminute as Adisak Kraisorn found the second goal a minute later.

Thailand then added two further goals after the break through Chananan Pombupha in the 73^rd minute and Pokklaw A-Nan in the 80^th minute. The loss for Cambodia was their first following their win over Hong Kong two days earlier.

In the meantime, hosts Laos fell to their second loss in the qualifiers where tonight they succumbed to a 2-1 defeat at the hands of DPR Korea. The Koreans were on target in the 18^th minute off Mun Hyok and also 42^nd minute through Jong Il Gwan.

Laos scored their only goal in the game off Thinnakone Vongsa just two minutes into the second half but that failed to stage a revival as DPP Korea held on for the win.

CURRENT GROUP F STANDINGS