Myanmar claim AFF Youth Championship title

A 2nd minute goal by Hla Aye Htwe proved sufficient for Myanmar to beat Malaysia 1-0 in the final of the AFF Under-20 Youth Championship at the Jakabaring Stadium.

Aye Htwe”s volleyed the ball home off a corner kick Myanmar forced before the Malaysian defence could settle down. The goal furnished proof that a team”s defence is most vulnerable in the opening minutes of each half.

Myanmar deserved their win, deploying the same tactics that had carried them through the group phase of the competition where they beat Malaysia 2-1.

Their players fan out into attack with impressive stealth, preferring the low through ball into space that often saw a Myanmar player running on to receive which were demonstrations of their splendid off-the-ball running.

In contrast, the Malaysians players preferred the long ball but they did possess the close control to stifle the ball with one touch, neither was their off-the-ball running as astute as the Myanmar”s.

The Malaysians dominated play in the second half during which they made all three substitutions, hoping to enliven their attack. But aside from an 81st minute attempt when Asparuddin Putra superbly backheeled a freekick struck by Safiq Rahim which Myanmar goalkeeper Zaw Moe Htet grandly palmed over the bar, the Malaysians had little to show for their dominance.

In the end, Myanmar”s quicker acceleration into attack and preference for the low pass into space saw them the better side on the night.

Maynmar manager U Thein Aung offered the view that the Malaysians would have won the match had their players been more keen on the ball than on the opposing player.

SThey are a skilful team but they must play the ball rather than concentrate on the man,⬝ he said. SIn any case, they are in the same group as we in the Asian qualifying round of the Under-20 continental championship and so we will meet again,⬝ he added.

K. Rajagopal, the Malaysian team coach, described the Myanmar goal as a Ssloppy⬝ one that his defenders felt should have been ruled out by the referee.

SWe came back in the second half and were the better team but we just could not score,⬝ he added.

In the earlier match for third and fourth placing, Laos beat Vietnam 4-1. All four Loatian goals were scored by Bounphone Khensisana who was judged the Most Valuable Player of the tournament. Vietnam scored through Nguyen Ngoc Anh.

The tournament”s topscorer was Mohd Zafuan Adha of Malaysia who had a tally of nine goals.