YANGON (5 June 2013) – Myanmar fell to a 2-0 loss to Singapore in a friendly that was played at the Youth Training Centre in Thuwunna while the Philippines edged Hong Kong 1-0 at the Mongkok Stadium.
Khairul Amri found the lead early in the ninth minute off a cross from Faritz Hameed before leftback Shaiful Esah doubled the lead three minutes later with a well-taken free-kick.
Myanmar could have pulled a goal back just after the break when they earned a penalty but Izwan Mahbud was at hand to deny them. Towards the closing stages of the game, the homesters found themselves with a man short when Yan Aung Win was sent off.
“We were missing several key players due to injuries. But Singapore played well and they had a strong team,” said Myanmar coach Park Sung Hwa afterwards.
Countered Bernd Stange, the recently-appointed coach of Singapore: “we achieved what we wanted to do. We are very pleased with the first 30 minutes. This is exactly the kind of football we want to play in the future – attractive football with overlapping runs and combinational play. We will try to catch up with Myanmar in the FIFA world ranking. As I said, we will do it step by step. It takes time.”
In the meantime, the Philippines beat Hong Kong 1-0 at the Mongkok Stadium.
James Younghusband, who plays for Loyola Meralco Sparks in the United Football League (UFL), scored the only goal of the game in 33rd minute.
