Malaysia squandered a three-goal lead at the end of a productive first half to allow Singapore to comeback for a 3-3 draw in the opening match of Group A of the AFF Under-16 Girls’ Championship here in Palembang.
Malaysia got two quick goals within a space of four minutes off Ain Nur Qaseh Azman in the third minute and Nur Mekka Rania Mohd Hazri in the sixth minute as Ayuna Anjani then added the third goal just three minutes before the break.
Singapore then replied through Nurhidayu Naszri (56th minute), Putri Nur Syaliza (63rd) and Nur Atikah Ardini Saleh (76th).
In the meantime, across town Vietnam were held scoreless by a resilient Myanmar side at the Bumi Sriwijaya Stadium.
It was a pulsating battle between two attack-minded teams but neither Vietnam nor Myanmar could make it count when it mattered most.
And by the time when the clouds opened up just before the break, it affected the quality of play in the second half as both teams were resigned to sharing the point.
“It was a good first game I thought,” said Myanmar head coach San San Thein. “Picking up the one point is certainly a good start.”
For Vietnam, they were not at all too disappointed with the result although head coach Nguyen Thi Mai Lan felt that her strikers could have been more efficient.
“Yes we made some breaks and we could have scored but this is the first game and I’m just happy that we created chances.”
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AFF UNDER-16 GIRLS’ CHAMPIONSHIP
RESULTS (Group A)
Vietnam 0 Myanmar 0
Singapore 3 Malaysia 3
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FIXTURES (Group B)
2 May 2018 (Kick off at 1600hrs)
Thailand vs Indonesia (Bumi Sriwijaya)
Cambodia vs Laos (Athletic Jaka Baring 1)
