THE Myanmar men’s football team squeaked into the semi-final round of the Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) in Korat, Thailand, thanks in part to Thailand’s 2-1 victory over Indonesia in the last match of the group round on Friday.

When all was said and done, Thailand topped Group A with nine points, while Myanmar finished second in the same group with four points.

While Indonesia had also earned four points in the group, it was Myanmar who got the nod to advance into the semi-finals on goal difference – Myanmar scored eight and conceded five, and Indonesia scored four and allowed three.

The fourth team in Group A, Cambodia, finished at the bottom of the heap with zero points, giving up a massive 17 goals and managing only three of its own.

Myanmar’s escape from elimination was incredibly narrow, coming down to the last match of the group. Up until Friday the team had suffered a 2-3 loss to Thailand and ended its match against Indonesia with a goalless draw.

However, Myanmar’s 6-2 victory over Cambodia on Friday brought the team’s point total to four, on par with Indonesia, who needed a draw or a victory against Thailand to secure a place in the semis.

However, Indonesia’s 2-1 loss in the match meant the players had to pack their bags for home while the Myanmar team lived to fight another day.

Myanmar’s head coach, Mr Marcos Falopa, had said before the tournament that he hoped the team could do better than they had in the 2005 SEA Games in the Philippines, where the team failed to advance from the group stage under then-coach Mr Ivan Kolev, who is now coaching the Indonesian team.

In fact, Myanmar’s chances to advance seemed to have all by disappeared on December 4 when a tense contest with Indonesia ended 0-0. Added to Myanmar’s defeat to Thailand on December 2, the team had only managed to earn one point in two matches.

Despite Myanmar’s crushing defeat of Cambodia three days later, fans had to wait for the result of Thailand-Indonesia match that evening to find out the fate of the Myanmar team.

Thailand’s efforts to win the game were acknowledged favourably by many Myanmar boosters, as Thailand fought for victory rather than easing back and allowing the game to end in draw.

“I’m very happy for our men’s team for reaching the next stage and I greatly thank Thailand for helping us by beating Indonesia,” said football fanatic Ko Kyaw Thet Oo.

By the time the men’s team qualified for the semis the women’s team had already advanced beyond the group stage by smashing Malaysia 5-0 on December 4 and battling to a 2-2 draw against Thailand on December 7 in Group B.

Thailand had already crushed Malaysia 6-0 on December 2 to earn the top spot in the group, with Myanmar taking the runner-up spot.

The Myanmar women will play the winner of Group A, the powerhouse Vietnam team, in the semis on December 10.