S’pore crash to defeat against Myanmar in AFC U-23 qualifier

SINGAPORE – They departed for Myanmar on Monday (July 17) to begin their hunt for history, but the Young Lions’ hopes of qualifying for their first-ever Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Under-23 championships were dealt a heavy blow on Wednesday after a 2-0 opening defeat to the hosts.

In a tempestuous match that saw both teams finishing with 10 men, Myanmar took all three points at the Thuwunna Stadium in Yangon in their Group F qualifying clash.

Star forward Aung Thu broke the deadlock on the hour mark before Hlaing Bo Bo wrapped up the win in injury time, leaving the visitors with an uphill task of making the 2018 finals in China.

Backed by a vociferous home crowd, Myanmar – with five starters from the team that made the Fifa U20 World Cup two years ago – had the better chances throughout and could have registered a more comfortable winning margin.

Singapore custodian Zharfan Rohaizad was called into action early on in the ninth minute to repel Aung Thu’s fierce effort, after the 21-year-old beat two men on the left and cut in to shoot.

Fellow forward Aung Kaung Mann wasted the first half’s best opening when he spooned his effort over with only Zharfan to beat.

But Gerd Zeise’s men broke through on the hour when Aung Thu sprung the offside trap and latched onto Maung Maung Lwin’s deft through pass, before dinking his finish over the Singapore keeper.

Hein Thiha Zaw then spanked an effort just wide from range as Myanmar looked to increase their advantage, before tempers boiled over in the 69th minute.

Both sets of players had already engaged in some argy-bargy in the first half, with the Young Lions unhappy after Ilyas Lee and Muhaimin Suhaimi went down after clashing with their opponents.

While Qatari referee Khamis Mohamed K A Al-Kuwari had only cautioned the Myanmar players then, he did not hesitate to produce the red card after Zharfan shoved Kaung Mann following a challenge in the box.

The latter also received a second yellow, leaving both teams a man short.

Richard Tardy’s boys did show spirit as they tried to force an equaliser, but they could not make headway against a Myanmar side who turned on their slick passing play in the second half as the waterlogged pitch dried up.

Ikhsan Fandi was Singapore’s brightest spark, testing goalkeeper Phone Thitsar Min twice and coming close on a couple more occasions, but the visitors just could not find the net.

Aung Thu spurned a glorious chance to kill the game after firing wide with substitute goalkeeper Hairul Syirhan left to beat, but a second goal came three minutes into stoppage time as Bo Bo tucked in the rebound from his own saved header.

The Singaporeans will face group favourites Australia — who beat Brunei 2-0 earlier in the other group match — on Friday, before finishing their group campaign on Sunday against Brunei.

Only the 10 group winners and five best second-placed teams will advance to the finals in China.