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Myanmar puts it across Sri Lanka

Abhijit Sen Gupta

— Photo: P.V. Sivakumar

THE FINAL ONE: Myanmar’s Si Thu Win is mobbed by teammates after scoring the third goal against Sri Lanka.

HYDERABAD: Myanmar defeated Sri Lanka 3-1 in the Group ‘B’ league of the AFC Challenge Cup football tournament here on Friday.

The match started on a dull note and neither team could make any penetrative moves in the first quarter.

The Myanmar outfit found its rhythm and began to control the proceedings towards the end of first session.

Myanmar came close to scoring when Yaza Wein Thein’s free-kick from ten yards outside the box beat the goalkeeper but sailed just a few inches over the crossbar.

Myanmar continued to make some good moves to mount pressure on the Sri Lanka citadel. However, at the break the teams were locked goalless.

Soon after resumption Myanmar got the first breakthrough. Myo Min Tun went up the left and sent in an accurate low cross into the box for a diving Soe Myat Min to head home.

But Sri Lanka equalised barely four minutes later as it paid Myanmar back in the same coin with an identical move which resulted in Kasun Jayasuriya heading the ball into the net.

The goal seemed to have inspired the Sri Lankan players and they launched a series of well coordinated attacks.

The team almost went ahead when a low pass from the right by Chatura went straight to Izzadeen whose power packed shot narrowly missed the target.

At the other end the Myanmar midfield was also creating openings and the action swung constantly from one box to the other. Midway through the session Soe Myat Min’s stinging shot rebounded off the post.

But the disappointment did not last long as Myanmar went ahead in the 70th minute.

The fleet-footed Yaza Wein Thein, who was a constant danger to the Sri Lanka defence with his quick darting runs down the right flank, created a chance for Yan Paing. The latter got a perfect pass well inside the box and had no difficulty in beating the Sri Lankan custodian as Myanmar went ahead 2-1. The third goal came late in the 85th minute. Again it was Yaza Wein Thein who made the move up the right before cutting in past a defender and passing to Si Thu Win who banged the ball home as Myanmar won 3-1.

Korea beats Nepal

In the second match of the day DPR Korea defeated Nepal by a solitary goal scored by Pak Song Chol in the 39th minute.

With this win DPR Korea entered the semi final and Nepal is out of the tournament.

Sunday’s matches: Turkmenistan vs India (6.30 p.m, Gachibowli), Afghanistan vs Tajikistan (6.30 pm, LBS).

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