Myanmar captain Soe Myat Min celebrates after scoring the winning goal at Thuwunna Stadium on November 21. Myanmar beat Indonesia 2-1 to win the Grand Royal Challenge Cup in front of more than 25,000 fans. Pic: Hein Latt Aung

MYANMAR took out the Grand Royal Challenge Cup 2008 with a hard-fought 2-1 win over Indonesia on November 21 thanks to a double from captain Soe Myat Min.

His perfectly-executed headed goal in the 62nd minute proved to be the winner after Indonesia cancelled out Myanmar’s early opener thr-ough an own goal, at an over-flowing Thuwunna stadium.

The 25,000-plus fans – many draped in Myanmar flags, their faces covered in red and blue paint – jumped and sang as the referee blew the final whistle after more than five minutes of injury time. The biggest cheer of the day was reserved for Brazilian coach Marcos Falopa, who danced with ecstatic fans in front of the main grandstand.

The Myanmar boss said after the match that the crowd had been integral for the win.

“The fans’ support was very important for the players’ morale, it helped them play with confidence but they also were tactically good,” he said.

Myanmar’s Zaw Linn Tun holds the Grand Royal Challenge Cup aloft after Myanmar downed Indonesia 2-1 in the final at Thuwunna Stadium on November 21. Pic: Hein Latt Aung

“Together we have won the cup,” he said, holding up his winner’s medal. “I offer it to all the people in Myanmar for their support in the tournament.”
“I’m very proud to be a part of the Myanmar team.”

Soe Myat Min was awarded man of the match for his brace, while Yazar Win Thein received man of the series.

The Indonesian players watched on, disconsolate. Both sides had run themselves into the ground in a frenetic, open match – only a lack of finishing prowess and some brave goalkeeping stopped the scoreline from blowing out.
Myanmar’s goalkeeper was called into action in just the third minute.

Indonesia’s Isnan Ali played a delightful one-two that put him clear through but his shot was well saved by Aung Aung Oo.

Myanmar had most of the possession in the opening minutes and looked to attack down the left flank. Unlike in the semi-final against Malaysia, their wingers put in a number of dangerous crosses and it was from a set piece, in the fifth minute, that they opened the scoring.

Free kick specialist Myo Min Tun found captain Soe Myat Min completely unmarked at the back post, his precision header left goalkeeper Markus Harson Rihihina with no chance.

It wasn’t all one way traffic, however. Indonesia’s Bambang Pamungkas was proving a handful for his marker, missing with a free header on nine minutes and then hitting the side netting two minutes later.

The visitors’ pressure was rewarded, somewhat fortuitously, in the 14th minute. From a counterattack, Taolahu Abdul Musafry crossed from the left flank and both goalkeeper Aung Aung Oo and the lurking Indonesian striker missed the ball, which then cannoned into the back of the net off defender Moe Win’s thigh.

The crowd were momentarily silenced but soon came to life, with unfortunate consequences. Myanmar’s Soe Myat Min found himself one-on-one with the keeper but he somehow got the ball caught under his feet, the referee awarded the free kick to Indonesia.

Myanmar then squandered some opportunities to re-establish their lead, Myo Min Tun volleying over in the 35th minute after good work from Kyaw Thiha and defender Myint Thu.

Indonesia opened the second half well, helped by the Myanmar defence who seemed unable to clear the ball properly. In the 46th minute, a corner spilled out to Indonesia’s Punaryo Astaman, who unleashed a goalbound shot that Aung Aung Oo managed to tip onto the crossbar.

The match was still evenly poised and both sides wasted several chances to take the lead. Myanmar’s coach Marcos Falopa made the first substitution, bringing off striker Kyaw Thiha for midfielder Aung Kyaw Moe in the 57th minute and moving Yazar Win Thein up into the striker’s role. The move gave Myanmar more pace in attack and they broke through in the 62nd minute, again from a free kick after Yazar Win Thein was fouled by Usep Munandar. From the left flank, midfielder Zaw Htet Aung floated in a seemingly innocuous ball that Soe Myat Min – again unmarked – headed powerfully into the bottom right corner, sending the crowd into raptures.

The momentum had swung decisively to Myanmar and they were unlucky not to extend their lead. In the 69th minute, Yazar Win Thein unleashed a rocket from 30 metres that gave Indonesia’s goalkeeper little chance but it cannoned back off the crossbar.

Myanmar’s defensive frailties were exposed again in the 83rd minute, when an Isnan Ali free kick picked out Bambang Pamungkas, his close range shot was blocked by Aung Aung Oo and the ball was cleared to safety.

Five minutes later the home side again hit the bar, in controversial circumstances. Myo Min Tun, who had been off the field receiving treatment, received a pass from Yazar Win Thein and crossed it back to the midfielder, who beat the keeper but his shot skimmed the top of the bar. The Indonesian players were incensed – rightly so – that Myo Min Tun had re-entered play without the referee’s permission.

Indonesia had several late chances to equalise. First Bambang Pamungkas headed wide, then in the third minute of injury time he flicked on a cross that found Aliyudin but the Indonesian striker couldn’t get a shot in and the ball was cleared again.

It was to be the final chance for the visitors. After the Thai referee blew the final whistle, several Indonesian players surrounded him and goalkeeper Markus Harson Rihihina was shown a red card. The reason for the dismissal was unclear and Indonesia’s assistant coach refused to comment on the referee’s performance after the match.

“We don’t want to criticise the decision of the referee today because everybody can see what happened on the field,” he said. “This is good experience for us ahead of the Suzuki Cup, in December.”

Marcos Falopa also said the tournament was good preparation for the ASEAN championships, adding that the players will begin training for the tournament on November 24.