It was a thrilling encounter as Myanmar and Timor Leste engaged in an action-packed AFF Under-19 Championship Group B match that eventually ended in a 2-2 draw at the Joko Samudro Stadium here today. Myanmar snatched the early lead but Timor Leste bounced back to move ahead. With four minutes remaining, Myanmar netted the equaliser to share the spoils with their disappointed opponents.
In a later Group B tie tonight, Cambodia had a cracking start when they landed the fastest goal of the tournament thus far with a third minute strike from skipper Narong Kakada. Cambodia, with a hattrick from Kheang Menghour, picked up the pace after the break to cruise to a comfortable 5-0 win.
Myanmar had a dream start when they scored just eight minutes after kick-off. A tackle by Timor Leste’s Nelson Viegas on striker Win Naing Tun resulted in a penalty. To their horror, Pyae Sone Naing slammed his shot into the left post, but he soon heaved a sigh of relief when Ye Yint Aung crashed in the rebound.
The Myanmar team suffered a massive setback in the 13th minute after defender Than Htike Zin sustained an injury, was carried off, and was soon rushed to the hospital. It was later confirmed that he had a broken collarbone.
In the dying minutes, Timor Leste launched a quick counter-attack but it ended with Rivaldo’s weak shot rolling out. Just when they looked set to head to the dressing room trailing, Timor Leste’s Yohannes Gusmao rushed forward, and sent a crisp left-footed shot into goal.
Some 15 minutes after the break, Mouzinho De Lima raced down the right flank and crashed in a stinging shot past goalkeeper Zin Nyi Nyi Aung to hand Timor Leste the lead. Both sides traded attacks but were unable to get their shots in.
Then in the 86th minute, the Myanmar bench were on their feet as Pyae Sone Naing made his way down the right flank and crossed to the centre where Win Naing Tun leapt above the defenders to glance in the equaliser. Myanmar had a whiff of victory in the very last minute but the goal disallowed.
Meanwhile, Cambodia stormed ahead after Soeuth Nava broke through the defence including the keeper to tap into an open goal. A few minutes later, Our Phearun cut in from the left and looked set to double the score but he slammed into the side. Any thoughts the floodgates would open were unfounded as the Brunei team pulled together and defended well. Brunei had a close call in the 24th minute but Mohd Salleh @ Abd Salam’s stinging freekick grazed the crossbar.
But there wasn’t much Brunei could do put the brakes on their opponents in the second half. Cambodia helped themselves to four goals courtesy of three from Kheang Menghour (51st, 65th, 66th) and another from Narong Kakada in the 90th minute.
Tomorrow, three Group A matches will take place with hosts Indonesia meeting Singapore at the Gelora Delta Stadium. Reigning champs Thailand will face Laos while Vietnam will meet the Philippines.
RESULTS
| Date | Match | Group | Teams | |
| July 2
|
4 | B | TIMOR LESTE 2
Paulo 45+2 Mouzinho de Lima 60th |
MYANMAR 2
Ye Yint Aung 9th Win Naing Tun 86th |
| July 2 | 5 | B | BRUNEI 0
|
CAMBODIA 5
Narong Kakada 3rd, 90th Kheang Menghour 51st, 65th, 66th |
| Table Standings | ||||||||
| Group A | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS |
| Philippines | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| Indonesia | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| Thailand | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Vietnam | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Laos | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 0 |
| Singapore | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -1 | 0 |
| Group B | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS |
| Cambodia | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 3 |
| Myanmar | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| Timor Leste | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| Brunei DS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | -5 | 0 |
| Malaysia | ||||||||
| *Teams in BOLD Qualify to the Semi-Finals | ||||||||
FIXTURES (remaining group stage matches)
July 3 – Group A: Thailand vs Laos, Indonesia vs Singapore, Vietnam vs Philippines
July 4 – Group B: Cambodia vs Malaysia, Brunei vs Timor Leste
July 5 – Group A: Laos vs Vietnam, Philippines vs Indonesia, Thailand vs Singapore
July 6 – Group B: Malaysia vs Brunei, Myanmar vs Cambodia
July 7 – Group A: Singapore vs Laos, Philippines vs Thailand, Indonesia vs Vietnam
July 8 – Group B: Myanmar vs Brunei, Timor Leste vs Malaysia
July 9 – Group A: Laos vs Philippines, Vietnam vs Singapore, Thailand vs Indonesia
July 10 – Group B: Cambodia vs Timor Leste, Malaysia vs Myanmar
For the complete fixtures, go to http://www.aseanfootball.org/v3/aff-u19-championship-2018/#1526567058939-ef16c19b-91be
