PALEMBANG (7 May 2018) – It will be down to the final match of Group A in two days to decide who will emerge as group winners and runners respectively following Myanmar and Vietnam comprehensive victory today.
Myanmar thumped Singapore 7-1 at the Bumi Sriwijaya Stadium while Vietnam whitewashed Singapore 3-0 at the Athletic Jaka Baring 1 Stadium across town.
“There were a lot of mistakes to be rectified for sure. We should have scored a lot more goals and we could have played better,” said Myanmar head coach San San Thein after the match.
“Actually, it does not matter who we play against in the semi-finals – either Laos or Thailand is fine.”
It was always going to be a tough match for Singapore considering that the Myanmar girls are not only technically better, they are also a lot fitter and plays a fast running game.
It did not take them long to prise open the Singapore defence when in the third minute, the diminutive Swe Mar Aung shot in past Singapore keeper Azreanna Azlan for the lead.
Singapore tightened up their defence somewhat up until the 17th minute when Myanmar captain Myat Noe Khin slot home from close range.
By then, the Singapore girls seem to have lost focus as both Mar Aung (18th, 26th, 40th and 55th) and Noe Khin (38th minute) then slammed a further five goals between them.
At the Athletic Jaka Baring 1 Stadium, Vietnam walked away easy 3-0 winners over the Philippines in spite of the hard defensive work the latter put in the first half.
Vu Thi Hoa opened account in the 48th minutes as Dang Thanh Thao then added two more goals (51st and 80th minute) for the win.
“The rain affected play in the first half. But we recovered in the second half when the rain stopped,” said Vietnam head coach Nguyen Thi Mai Lan.
Added Philippines head coach Marielle Benitez: “We started well but we faltered in the second. We failed to make the semi-finals this year but we have picked up some good lessons.”
Following today’s results, Myanmar are at the top of Group A on better goals scored as against Vietnam. Both teams are on the same seven points after three matches.
AFF UNDER-16 GIRLS’ CHAMPIONSHIP
RESULTS (Group A)
Myanmar 7 Singapore 1
Vietnam 3 Philippines 0
FIXTURES (Group A)
9 May 2018 (Kick off at 1600hrs)
Malaysia vs Vietnam (Bumi Sriwijaya)
Philippines vs Myanmar (Athletic Jaka Baring 1)
