As expected, the battle will be between Myanmar and Vietnam in Group B as they look to lock horns in two days to decide who will win the group and who will take the runners-spot in preparation for the cross-over semi-finals.
And today, Myanmar made sure that they collect their third full points of the competition when they lambasted Singapore 8-0 while Vietnam overcame the Philippines 5-0.
“Today, we used mostly young players as we were a bit worried of getting the regulars injured,” said Myanmar head coach Win Thu Moe.
“Singapore tried to play their game, they have improved but they still have some way to go yet. We are of course very happy with what the players showed today.”
After conceding 13 goals in the last two matches and scoring none, Singapore were determined to give a better account of themselves.
But while they tried to put a semblance of a defensive set-up, Singapore goalkeeper Noor Kusumawati Mohammad Rosmah would be a weak link when she gave up the first goal in the 12th minute after having failed to make a clean save off a cross that was finished by Yee Yee Oo.
Yee Oo then doubled Myanmar’s advantage with the second goal of the game from inside the box while Nilar Win stabbed home a goal mouth melee in the 40th minute to give them a comfortable 3-0 lead at the break.
Nilar Myint then grabbed the fourth goal of the game in the 57th minute as Myanmar stamped their total control in the game which they would soon add through Khin Moe Wai in the 70th minute, July Kyaw (76th) and Khin Mo Mo Tun a minute to the end.
In the meantime, Vietnam maintained their firm grip of the group when they flogged the Philippines 5-0.
Just two minutes in, Vietnam were already ahead when Nguyen Thi Van latched on to a cross from Nguyen Thi Tuyet Dung.
Huynh Nhu then grabbed a double with goals in the 12th and 30th minute as Pham Hoang Quynh headed in the cross in the 41st minute for Vietnam to take a 4-0 lead at the break.
The Philippines tried to push forward in the second half but the rare chance that they managed to, they did not have enough support for it to be effective.
And restricted to just a few shots from distance did not actually troubled the Vietnam backline as the latter went on to create several clear chances which could have seen better finishes.
It was late in the 78th minute of play that Vietnam finally managed to change the score line as Thai Thi Thao curled in a shot from the edge of the Philippines box to settle things.
The win gave Vietnam the full nine points as Myanmar although they currently sit at the top of Group B on better goal difference.
“This is a harder match for us compared to the last two games as Philippines are actually better than Indonesia and Singapore,” said Vietnam head coach Mai Duc Chung.
“The next match we will play against Myanmar to compete for group winner”
AFF WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP
RESULTS – Group B
Myanmar 7 Singapore 0
Philippines 0 Vietnam 5
FIXTURES – All matches at Bumi Sriwijaya Stadium
8 July 2018 – Group A
1600: Timor Leste vs Malaysia
1900: Thailand vs U20 Australia
Table Standings
| Group A | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS |
| Australia U-20 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 0 | 28 | 9 |
| Thailand | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 27 | 0 | 27 | 9 |
| Malaysia | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 15 | -11 | 3 |
| Cambodia | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 12 | 27 | -15 | 3 |
| Timor-Leste | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 29 | -29 | 0 |
| Group B | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS |
| Vietnam | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 0 | 21 | 9 |
| Myanmar | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 1 | 16 | 9 |
| Philippines | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 9 | -6 | 3 |
| Indonesia | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 12 | -11 | 1 |
| Singapore | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 20 | -20 | 1 |
