THAILAND HOLD SLIGHT ADVANTAGE

Even though the Thais did concede a 1-0 loss to the hosts in the final Group A match a few days ago, still there is no denying that as far as technical as well as tactical abilities, they are well ahead of Myanmar and the rest of the competing field.

“It was a concerted performance in the semi-finals and I’m expecting more of the same against Myanmar in the final,” said Thailand head coach Chana Yodprang.

“As you know, we lost to them by a solitary goal in the last group match – which was the only blot in our campaign thus far – so there’s an added incentive to make sure that we do not make the same mistakes in the final.”

With Sunisa Srangthaisong and Chidtawan Chawong playing some of their best game in this tournament, the Thais perhaps possess the all round capability to win the title.

And while Myanmar might have been buoyed by their commanding performance in the semi-finals when they crushed Malaysia, still head coach Aye Kyu was a little more pragmatic in his assessment and felt that the final will turn out to be a harder test.

“We are playing against a team which have been playing together for quite some time and although we have beaten them before, it does not mean that we are taking this game any easier,” added Aye Kyu.

“It will be another difficult match especially against a determined Thai side wanting to make sure that they erase their loss to us.

“We will just have to be more patient like we did in the group match – that I feel will be the key.”

It could be inferred that with the decision to rest a few key players for the semi-finals including the mercurial Margrat Marri – who scored the winner against Thailand – Myanmar will be hoping to go for the early kill and disrupt the Thai game in the final.

But whatever the thoughts will be on the more than 20,000 expected attendances at the Youth Training Centre, it will be an evening of attacking football for sure.

TOMORROW’S FIXTURES (All matches at the Youth Training Centre)

THIRD and FOURTH PLACING (1500hr): VIETNAM vs MALAYSIA

FINAL (1745hr): MYANMAR vs THAILAND