MYANMAR FINISH SECOND IN GROUP

Going into the final group match last night with an unblemished record – following their 3-0 over Nepal and 3-1 win over Sri Lanka – the Myanmarese found themselves done in by an early goal in the 15th minute from Ro Hak-su.

“I’m very happy with the way the team has performed. I’m very proud of what they have achieved,” said Marcos Falopa, the head coach for Myanmar.

“It was a good game. We made a small mistake in defence and they scored. We had the chance to draw this game, but we were unfortunate with one shot hitting the post.

“We attacked a little more, but we just could not put the ball between the posts. DPR Korea are prepared for this tournament and maybe we will meet them in the final.”

Myanmar seemed to adapt better to the soggy conditions caused by overnight rain and a steady drizzle, driving at the North Korean defence time and again.

But it would seem that the early goal from Ro in the 15th minute after being set up by Yun Yong-il was enough to decide the final outcome.

Myanmar came close to levelling the score in the 32nd minute when Myo Min Tun rifled a shot from the edge of the area that rolled out of the grasp of goalkeeper Ju Kwang-min, going just past the right post.

Two minutes later, skipper Soe Myat Min had a goal disallowed for a foul while a Tun Tun Win shot from 30 yards clipped the crossbar on its way out.

DPR Korea rallied strongly early in the second half with Kim Kyong-il’s attempt sailing over the crossbar, while a free-kick by Yun Yong-il from 20 yards went just wide of the right post.

So Kwang-chol’s 56th minute attempt was stopped by goalkeeper Aung Aung Oo as the Koreans continued to fire blanks.
With the win, DPR Korea will take on Tajikistan in the semi-finals while Myanmar, who have six points, face hosts India.