Myanmar stuns Thailand with a late goal in ASEAN women's soccer championship
Myanmar Margaret Mary's late goal stunned 10-woman Thailand with an unexpected 0-1 defeat in their last match of Group B of the 2007 ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Championship women's soccer tournament at the Thuwunna Youth Training Center here Monday.
Thailand got the upper hand in the first 45 minutes. Thai players attacked to the Myanmar side from different sides but they could not convert their efforts into scoring throughout the first half due to Myanmar defenders could deter their attackings especially goalkeeper May Khin Ya Min's excellent saves.
As some Myanmar midfielders and forwarders had to assist in their defence line they could make a few counter-attack to their rival side before the 45th minute.
At the start of the second half, Myanmar players successively attacked to the Thai side.
Thai goalie's great save denied Myanmar striker Aye Nandar Hlaing's freekick from the middle of the field of the Thai side at the 47th minute.
A Thai player was ousted at the 87th minute for stepping on a Myanmar player in a clash. Both sides could not break the deadlock up to nearly 90 minutes.
Substitute Margaret Mary scored the only goal and sealed the victory for Myanmar when she escaped from the outside trap and faced with rival's goallie one-by-one, twisting her and fired the ball home with her left foot.
"Myanmar deserved to win over arch-rival Thailand as our players tried very hard today and we are sure to reach the final of the tournament," the Myanmar Football Federation technical adviser U Aye Maung Gyi told Xinhua in an interview after the Myanmar-Thai match.
"As the 2007 ASEAN Championship women's soccer tournament was held here, we have the chance to closely study the rival teams which will also participate in the upcoming 24th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games," he said.
In the other match of the tournament at the same time at the Aung San football field here, Laos hammered Singapore 3-1.
Myanmar beat Singapore 3-0 and Thailand trounced Laos 13-1 in the opening day of the tournament and Myanmar crushed Laos 7-0 and Thailand whitewashed Singapore 8-0 in their second match of Group B .
Host Myanmar tops the Group B with nine points, three wins from three matches of the tournament, and will face Group A second place in the semifinals, while Thailand with six points, two wins and one loss, will face Group B leader.
Malaysia beat Indonesia 2-0 and Vietnam routed the Philippines 9-0 in their first matches of the Group A of the tournament and Indonesia defeated the Philippines 3-2 and Vietnam crushed Malaysia 9-0 in their second matches.
Vietnam will play with Indonesia and Malaysia with the Philippines on Tuesday.
Eight national women's soccer teams from the ASEAN -- Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam -- are taking part in the third ASEAN Championship women's soccer tournament from Sept. 6 to 15, which is hosted by Myanmar for the first time.
Host Myanmar, which is preparing for the upcoming the 24th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, is in Group B together with Laos, Singapore and Thailand, while Group A features Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and defending champion Vietnam.
Myanmar triumphed in the first ASEAN Championship tournament in Vietnam in October 2004 by defeating hosts in the final with penalty shootouts.
However, Myanmar lost to Vietnam in the final of the 23rd SEA Games in Manila, the Philippines, in 2005.
Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam and the invited Chinese Taipei teams featured in the second ASEAN Championship tournament in Vietnam in May 2006. Myanmar lost to Thailand 3-2, Chinese Taipei 3-0 and host Vietnam 1-0 respectively in the tournament.
ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
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