MYANMAR BEAT THAIS TO TAKE GROUP B

The hosts, who were under pressure for most of the match, needed just one chance in the 89th minute for Margrat to pick up the pass from Khin Marlar Tun before rounding off Thai custodian Waraporn Boonsing to slot the ball home.

“The Thais were stronger in terms of power, strength and skills,” admitted Myanmar head coach Aye Kyu.

“But what made the difference for us today was that our players were mentally stronger and they stood out the pressure from the Thais well. We had only that one real chance and we scored.”

In front of close to 10,000 screaming fans, Thailand started strongly with Nisa Romyen on the left and Chidtawan Chawong on the right.

Myanmar’s Khin Marlar Tun miss in the 28th minute was replied with header from Nisa in the 40th minute.

In the 61st minute, Pitsamai Sornsai totally miskicked her chance when she ballooned the ball over while in the 85th minute, tragedy struck Thailand when Suphapron Kaeobaen was red carded for excessive violent.

That allowed Myanmar to be more brazen when four minutes later, they finally gave their fans something to cheer about when Margrat put the ball beyond the reach of Warapron.

“It was an average age where we did not have a lot of luck with the chances that we had,” said Thailand head coach Chana Yodprang.

“But Myanmar defended well although I felt that the concentration from our players in the second half was lower.”

Meanwhile, Laos defeated Singapore 3-1 in another Group B match played out simultaneously at the Aung San Stadium located within the town. The victory secured Laos the third spot in the group while Singapore end their campaign in fourth spot with no points to show.

In a match that had no bearing on the top two semifinal berths in the group, Laos charged into attack and hit paydirt in the very first minute of the game. Defender Souchitta Phonhalath, from about 10 metres from the halfway line, inside the Singapore half, let loose a thundering shot that caught goalkeeper Erlinawaty Dewi Jaafar off and sailed right into goal.

In the 17th minute, Laos striker Souphavanh Phayvanh raced into the box and unleased a right-footed shot that Erlinawaty managed to push out. Souphavanh pounced on the rebound and booted it in with her left foot.

Souchitta was on target again in the last minute of the first half, again showing her ability at handling freekicks. She curled the ball around the wall and sent it into the far corner, beyond the reach of the Singapore keeper.

Singapore came back strong and scored in the 47th minute when Nuriah Md Noor turned in a freekick.

MYANMAR: May Khin Ya Min, San San Thien, San San Maw, Moe Moe War, Than Than Htwe, Myint Myint Aye, San Yu Naing, Khin Marlar Tun, Aye Nandar Hlaing, Zin Mar Wann (Margrat Marri, 72nd), Nyein Nyein Ei.

THAILAND: Waraporn Boonsing, Thidarat Wiwasikhu, Wilaiporn Boothduang, Junpen Seesraum (Wajee Kertsombun, 56th), Nisa Romyen, Sunisa Srangthaisong, Chidtawan Chawong, Pitsamai Sornsai (Kittiya Thiangtham, 72nd), Siriporn Mungkhala (Sunkunya Paengtham, 32nd), Suphaporn Kaeobaen, Anootsara Maijarern.

PIC: Thailand (in blue) against Myanmar (in red)

FINAL GROUP B STANDING

1. MYANMAR 9pts (+11); 2. THAILAND 6pts (+19); 3. Laos 3pts (-17); 4. Singapore 0pt (-13)