7 November
THE Myanmar men’s football team suffered a 0-2 loss against the Chinese team in the opening match of the AFC U-19 Championship 2002 Qualifiers yesterday at the Thuwunna Stadium in Yangon.
Myanmar lined up with goal-keeper Pyae Phyo Thu, Captain Si Thu Moe Khant, Thet Hein Soe, Nyan Lin Htet, Yan Kyaw Soe, Zaw Win Thein, La Min Htwe, Saw Kyaw Ae, Khun Kyaw Zin Hein, Kaung Khant Kyaw, and Hein Htet Aung.
Team Myanmar was led by head coach U Soe Myat Min.
Team Myanmar mounted an attack right from the start, but China prevailed, scoring their opening goal at 9 minutes. Liu Junxian took advantage of an error by Myanmar’s defense to net the goal.
Myanmar again launched an all-out attack, but the passes and kicks of Myanmar’s strikers were blocked by active Chinese defenders, and the first half ended with China leading by one goal.
Although Myanmar played a tougher game in the second half, weaknesses in its defense line helped China land another goal at 67 minutes. The goal was scored by Captain Tao over an assist from his teammate.
Myanmar strikers and mid-fielders made efforts to score, but could not convert till the final whistle, and the match ended with China winning by two goals. Myanmar U-19 men’s football team head coach U Soe Myat Min said: “There were so many errors seen in the defense line and that all made goal chances for team China.
Though my boys got scoring opportunities, they could not con-vert them into goals. I will take the lesson to prepare for the next matches in the tourney. A loss in the opening match means a tough game for us. But the reason I will try my best is that everything can happen in football.”
“I will make my team’s attack play style better during our training session. And, I have already been well prepared for the players setting due to the probable players’ injuries and ailments,” U Soe Myat Min added.
Head Coach of the China U-19 men’s football team, Cheng Yao Dong, said that as the match against host Myanmar was an opening match, his players had to play very hard, but they did their best and he was pleased with the result. The Chinese head coach also said that Myanmar is a brilliant team and added that team China will show better skills in the next group matches.
Lynn Thit (Tgi)
