MYANMAR LEAD GROUP B FOR NOW

LEBAK BULUS (15 Nov 2011) – Myanmar delivered what was expected of them this afternoon at the Lebak Bulus Stadium – scoring a close 1-0 win over Timor Leste to ensure that they took control of Group B at least for the next 48 hours.

With current group leaders Vietnam on the same ten points, there was a need for Myanmar to win the full points against Timor so as to give them the chance of finishing at the top of the group.

Vietnam still have match to play for where they will take on Laos in the final group game against Laos in two days.

With the game having no real consequence for Timor other than to salvage battered pride, the return of striker Ribeiro Murilo at least gave the team more presence upfront.

In the fifth minute, Murilo’s cross was perfectly connected by Diogo Rangel at the far post but the goal was called for offside. The game did not actually took after that as Myanmar were just passing the ball around and were not willing to commit too much.

It was not until the game reached the 34^th minute mark that Myanmar finally made an impression when Mai Aih Naing cut in from the left to beat marker Emanuel Abel before shooting past Timor keeper Carlos Emerson at the near post for the lead.

Two minutes later, Alan Pinheiro worked hard to break through the Myanmar defence but his shot came off the crossbar instead. Not too long afterwards Murilo, who had just returned from suspension, picked up a yellow card for arguing with referee Fahad Alkassar from the UAE.

Min Min Thu then had a double chance but his first effort was closed down by a recovering defender while his second try came off the cross bar instead.

Diogo Rangel then finished the first half for Timor with a grounder which narrowly missed the upright.

The second half did not actually change the pace of the game although Myanmar did concede several free kicks at the edge of their box. The closest was a well taken shot from Pinheiro, but Myanmar Kyaw Zin Htet was just well placed.

Several minutes later, another attempt from Pinheiro went well wide.