AFF U18: Myanmar keep pace with Indonesia; slim win for Laos

Myanmar kept pace at the top of Group A of the AFF Under-18 Next Media Cup 2019 when they beat the Philippines 4-1 to follow up on Indonesia’s whitewashed of Timor Leste 4-0 in the two matches that was played at the Binh Duong Stadium.

The win for Myanmar and Indonesia were follow-ups on Laos’ earlier 1-0 victory over Brunei DS over at Binh Duong 2.

Myanmar, who had opened their campaign in Group A with a stunning 7-2 win over Brunei DS, two goals in each half as the Philippines then pulled a late goal for the final score line.

“We are maintaining our target of making the semifinals of the championship, so winning the full points today was very important,” said Myanmar head coach Soe Myat Min.

Under wet and slippery conditions, both teams struggled to gain a firm footing as Myanmar set the early offensive play.

And before long and after getting in some crosses in from the right, Myanmar got the lead they were looking for in the tenth minute when Kaung Khant Kyaw headed in the freekick from Ye Min Kyaw freekick.

The Philippines tried hard to push forward but they just lack the numbers to support Earl Jappeth Pinero each time as the Myanmar defense were rarely troubled throughout the first half.

But the concession of two goals before and after the break through La Min Htew (45^thminute) and then Moe Swe (54^th) gave Myanmar the upper hand as if left the Philippines with a mountain to climb.

Myanmar then made sure that the game is well and beyond reach with their fourth goal of the game in the 71^st minute of play off another set piece – this time from Hein Htet Aung.

With the match reaching the end, the Philippines finally managed to find the back of the net when Francis Arturo Tacardon headed in Nicolai San Jose’s goal.

In the meantime Indonesia, who had blasted the Philippines 7-1 in their opening tie two days earlier, were very much in the same vein as they took full control against the Timorese to win the tie 4-0

“Timor Leste put us under a lot of pressure but the players did well to handle it and we came away with the full points and the goals,” said Indonesia head coach Fakhri Hussaini.

In the match that could have an effect to the standings at the end of the group stage, Indonesia were not about to let anything slide as they fought for everything and rarely allowed Timor to push forward.

And even without the speedy Aminuddin Bagus Alfikri upfront, Indonesia were still a handful as it took them only nine minutes to get on to the scoresheet when captain David Maulana fired in a well-taken free kick.

Timor then came close with a fabulous set piece of their own in the 29^th minute from Mouzinho de Lima but that miss would be costly as Indonesia then went on to score twice more for them to take a 3-0 lead at the break.

An exquisite one-timer from Muhammad Salman Alfarid beat Timor custodian Georgino Da Silva for the second time on the night in the 40^th minute as they then added another from Beckham Nugraha’s penalty five minutes later.

Timor Leste conceded the penalty for Jaimito Soares’s foul on Sutan Zico inside the box.

With the comfortable lead going into the second half, Indonesia stepped off the gas somewhat as they allowed Timor more possession.

But the Indonesian defence marshalled by the sturdy Aminuddin Bagas Arrizqi fends off all onslaught as Timor continued to be frustrated.

As Indonesia then added the fourth goal of the game in the 79^th minute through Amancio Araujo, a fracas almost broke out in the dying minutes of the game when Timor’s Salvador Da Silva was red-carded for an alleged stomping on Mochammad Supriadi. 

In the continued exchange, where the game was stopped several minutes by Thai referee Wiwat Jumpaoon, Indonesia’s Braif Fatari was also yellow-carded for his part.

On the other hand, Laos bounced back from their loss to Myanmar in their first match to beat Brunei DS 1-0.

Thanouthong Kietnalonglop scored the only goal of the game in the 21^st minute with a shot from inside the box as Laos then almost added the second goal if Tee Sihalath had not missed from the spot.

“We should have scored more goals today but we did not. We missed a few good chances,” added Laos assistant coach Vongmisay Soubuakham afterward.

RESULTS – 8 August 2019

GROUP A

Laos 1 Brunei DS 0

Indonesia 4 Timor Leste 0

Myanmar 4 Philippines 1

FIXTURES – 9 August 2019

GROUP B

1530: Thailand vs Cambodia – Thanh Long

1630: Malaysia vs Singapore – Thong Nhat

1930: Vietnam vs Australia – Thong Nhat 

GROUP A

GROUP B

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