| James Kon |
DEFENDING champions Myanmar boosted their chance of reaching the semifinal of the Hassanal Bolkiah Trophy for ASEAN Youth Football Tournament 2018 when they disposed Timor Leste 2-0 in the Group ‘A’ match at the Balapan Track and Field of the Hassanal Bolkiah National Sports Complex last night.
With one draw and a win, Myanmar are leading Group ‘A’ with four points.
Timor Leste coming into the match with high confidence after their first game win against Brunei looked dangerous in the early minutes.
In the 10th minute, Rufino Gama’s cross was met by Nidio Ricardo Ferreira Alves but his strike was too weak and was easily collected by Myanmar goalkeeper Phone Thitsar Min.
Myanmar managed to break the deadlock in the 24th minute as Win Naing Tun tapped in a loose ball after Timor Leste goalkeeper Fagio Augusto Da Silva tipped away Aung Kaung Mann’s effort.
After the break, Timor Leste mounted a comeback and nearly scored with a string of attacks.
Timor Leste’s Rufino Gama came close to finding the equaliser after 54 minutes when he got into the penalty box to hit a fine attempt that forced Phone Thitsar Min to make an impressive save.
On the 77th minute, Timor Leste again almost found the equaliser thorugh substitute Frangcyatama Alves im kefi, but his effort was saved.
Pressing high, Timor Leste were caught off guard in a counter attack when Myanmar’s Hein Htet Aung stole the ball from midfield and sprinted all the way to extend Myanmar’s lead.
Myanmar head coach Kyi Lwin was delighted with his team’s performance, but he also felt that there are still rooms for improvement.
Asked on their next game against Brunei on April 30, Kyi Lwin said, “All teams in our group still have their chances to head to the semifinal. We will play our best when we face Brunei.”
Timor Leste head coach Eduardo Pereira is positive for their next encounter against Thailand.
“I have studied the way Thailand played and I will come up with the best strategy to win the match to advance to the semifinal,” he said.
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