U23 SEA GAMES TEAM
THAILAND 3:1 MYANMAR
SEA GAMES FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT 2001 (KL. MALAYSIA)
FIRST ROUND 10/09/2001 19:35 TST.
Myanmar snatched the early lead but the Thais got their act together and began to take charge of the game from the later part of the first half. From that point on, the Thais started reeling in the goals.
After falling behind to a goal from Myanmar skipper Soe Myat Min, Thailand
recovered with two strikes from the lanky Manit Noyvach and another from
Sarawut Trephan. The only blemish in the Thai victory today was in conceding their first goal of the tournament. The favourites kept a clean slate for a total of 282 minutes.
With their victory Thailand have topped Group A with 12 points while Myanmar had to settle for the second spot with seven points. Both teams qualify for the semifinals which will take place on Thursday. Their opponents will only be determined tomorrow when the final Group B matches are played.
With several thousands fans already cheering their team on during the warm up session, it was hardly surprising that the Myanmar players were all fired up when they stepped on to the pitch.
Myanmar wasted no time and began their assault on the Thai goal as quickly as they could. They ahd their first shot after just 10 minutes but Aung Tun Naing's shot was saved by goalkeeper Umarin Yaodam.
But two minutes later, the Myanmar fans broke into song and dance as skipper Soe Myat Min forced the ball through during a scramble in front of goal.
But Myanmar's high work rate began to show some signs of slowing down after about 30 minutes. At that point, Thailand's Boonyarit Karnpakdee could have levelled the score had he connected a corner kick with better accuracy.
The Thais began to tighten their game and that was when they really started looking dangerous. Myanmar were forced back into their own half as the Thais moved up.
In the 39th minute, the Myanmar defence finally gave way as the lanky Manit Noyvich headed down a cross from Sarawut Trephan beyond the reach of goalkeeper Hein Zayar Kyaw.
Thailand continued to work on breaking the Myanmar defence down and almost went ahead in the last minute but Phichitphong Choeichiu's sizzler came off the post.
In the 61st minute, Manit raced through the centre, left his marker in his wake and slid the ball under the Myanmar custodian for his second goal of the night and his fifth of the tournament.
Sarawut Trephan added the third in the 74th minute after picking up a long cross and chipping it over the onrushing Hein Zayar Kyaw.
THAILAND: Umarin Yaodam, Jukkpant Punpee, Rungpoj Hawanchri (Kraikiat Beadtalu), Booyarit Kanpakdee (Yuttana Chaikaew), Anucha Kitpongsri, Surapong Thamwongsa, Sarawut Trephan, Phichitphonh Choeichiu, Jetsada Jitsawad, Manit Noyvach (Teeratep Winothai), Datsakorn Thonglao.
MYANMAR: Hein Zayar Kyaw, Min Thu, Soe Myat Min, Soe Lin Tun, Tint Naing Tun Thein, Aung Kyaw Moe, Nay Thu Hlaing (Min Naing), Min Thwin, Lwin Oo, Aung Tun Naing (Yan Paing), Aye Min Tun (Aung Kyaw Myint).
