Myanmar at the AFF Suzuki Cup
These articles first appeared on Mizzima.com
GAME 3 REVIEW
Myanmar’s senior football side crashed out of the ASEAN region AFF Suzuki Cup on November 29, when they lost 2–0 to neighbours Thailand at the Jalen Besar Stadium, Singapore.
Since taking charge of the national side following their disappointing performance at the South East Asian Games last December, Serbian coach Raddy Avramovic had overseen an apparent improvement in form that led to a rising in the world rankings and built hopes of semi-final qualification from this tournament.
But having only secured a single point from their three Group B games, in their opening draw with Malaysia, the White Angels failed to emulate the performances of Myanmar’s Under-19s side; who recently reached the semi-finals of the continent wide AFC U-19 championships and qualified for the U-20 World Cup, next year in New Zealand.
The Thais, who fielded a much-changed team from their earlier wins over Singapore and Malaysia, now advance to the knockout stages, where they will travel to Manilla and face Group A runners-up, the Philippines on December 7 for the first match in the two-legged affair.
Group B’s other qualifiers Malaysia will meet Group A winners Vietnam in the second semi-final with the first leg to be held in Kuala Lumpur, also on December 7
The host of Group B; Singapore, who were defending their 2012 title have received calls for coach Bernd Stange, who replaced Avramovic in May, to lose his job after the only points his side achieved was in their 4–2 defeat of Myanmar.
GAME 2 REVIEW
Myanmar’s campaign to reach the semi-finals of the AFF Suzuki Cup suffered a huge blow with their 4–2 defeat at the hands of hosts and reigning champions Singapore at the National Stadium on November 27.
Despite Myanmar’s Serbian coach, Radojko Avramović being familiar with the White Angels opponents, having led them to three ASEAN titles, including their last in 2012, he was unable to stop the city-state rushing into a 3–0 lead at half time.
The Lions opened the scoring after 15 minutes through a Shaiful Esah free-kick from the right before a brace of volleys from Hariss Harun in the 35th and 42nd minutes put Myanmar heavily on the back foot.
Myanmar entered the second half with a renewed vigour and brought the game back within reach through a 55th minute Zayar Win strike and Kyaw Ko Ko netting a spot kick just after the hour.
However, with 15 minutes left on the clock, and as Myanmar struggled to secure a point, all three were lost when captain Khin Maung Lwin headed into his own net.
In the other Group B game, Thailand beat Malaysia 3–2 to join the Philippines in qualifying for the knockout stage.
Myanmar will now have to beat neighbours Thailand and hope Malaysia can do the same to Singapore but by a smaller margin if they are to move on to the semi-finals.
GAME 2 PREVIEW
Myanmar’s Serbian national football team coach Radojko Avramovic told media his side’s November 26 clash with Singapore, the nation he led to three ASEAN titles between 2004 and 2012, would be emotional but his focus remains on propelling the White Angels into an AFF Suzuki Cup semi-final berth for the first time since 2004.
“It will be emotional but I just have to try to do my job,” said the Myanmar coach told a press conference.
“It is a tough game for both teams but Singapore are under more pressure because they are playing at home and they lost to Thailand,” said Avramovic.
Myanmar drew 0–0 with Malaysia in the opening game, while Singapore got off to a poor start in defending their 2012 title after a 2–1 defeat to Thailand conceded through a last minute penalty.
“It will be a very difficult match and based on the knowledge we have about Myanmar, we can expect Singapore to do most of the attacking and Myanmar to play on the counter-attack,” said Singapore’s Bernd Stange ahead of the 1830h kick off time (Myanmar Time).
Thailand face Malaysia in the other Group B game, earlier on November 26.
Philippines became the first team to qualify for the tournament’s semi-finals when they beat Indonesia 4–0 on November 25, following a similarly comprehensive 4–1 victory over Laos.
GAME 1 PREVIEW
Myanmar’s quest to lift the ASEAN Football Federation Cup this weekend takes their Serbian football coach Raddy Avramovic back to Singapore, the city-state he led to the trophy three times, including the most recent edition of the tournament in 2012.
Myanmar will face Malaysia in their Group B tie on November 23 before facing Singapore and Thailand later in the week.
The Malaysian game will be played on the artificial turf of the Jalan Besar stadium, a decision made after Singapore’s new 55,000 seater National Stadium has received criticism from the coaches of both Brazil and Juventus.
Myanmar won theirMyanmar’s quest to lift the ASEAN Football Federation Cup this weekend takes their Serbian football coach Raddy Avramovic back to S place in the tournament by topping their qualification group, played in Laos in October.
Group A will be played in Vietnam, where the hosts play Indonesia, Laos and the Philippines. The top two from each group will progress to the two-legged semi-finals, played in the participant’s respective countries.
QUALIFICATION
A 2–1 victory over hosts Laos on October 20 saw Myanmar conclude the ASEAN Football Federation Cup qualification tournament without a single loss and sees them qualify for the full competition kick-off on November 22.
The group’s stages of the competition will be split between Vietnam and Singapore. Myanmar will start their campaign on November 23 against Malaysia and play in Group B, to be hostedby Singapore, in a round robin that will also feature the hosts and Thailand.
Myanmar’s coach Radojko Avramovic is the most successful in the tournament’s history, having three times led Singapore to victory, including in the last edition of the tournament in 2012.
Myanmar also qualified in 2012, but only managed to collect one point from their three games, with a draw against Vietnam.
The semi-final and final of the competition is a two-legged affair, with one leg held in each of the contenders’ home nation.
