SEA Games: Myanmar shock Vietnam to reach final
PUBLISHED ONJune 13, 2015 11:56 AM
SINGAPORE - Myanmar shocked favourites Vietnam 2-1 win on Saturday to reach the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games final for the first time in 22 years.
Vietnam cancelled out Si Thu Aung's first-half penalty on 72 minutes but Myanmar skipper Lin Nay Tun grabbed the winner 10 minutes from time with a deflected near-post shot.
"This goal is very important to reach the final and this goal is also a historic goal for my career," said the Myanmar captain.
The win was a surprise even to Myanmar's coach Kyi Lwin after free-flowing Vietnam failed to convert their chances in wave after wave of attack.
"I feel very surprised about the result and I would like to thank all our players. They played very well," said the coach, a silver-medallist from Myanmar's only previous final appearance in 1993.
In Monday's final Myanmar will play either defending champions Thailand or Indonesia, who also meet at Singapore's National Stadium later on Saturday.
Myanmar's youngest player, 18-year-old Si Thu Aung, converted a penalty on 39 minutes after Vietnam's Ho Ngoc Thang stuck out his elbow to block a free-kick.
Vietnam responded with all-out attack as they dominated the match but they were thwarted by wayward finishing and Myanmar's inspired goalkeeper Kyaw Zin Phyo.
The Vietnamese finally equalised in the 72nd minute through midfielder Vo Huy Toan with an easy tap-in.
But Myanmar rallied to steal a famous win when Lin Nay Tun hit the winner on 80 minutes.
"Maybe Myanmar's penalty was lucky, but we had enough chances for two or three or maybe five goals but we couldn't (convert), so we also must get better," said Vietnam's coach Toshiya Miura.