THOSE hoping to see some new names at the top of the Myanmar League table have been so far disappointed this season. At Thuwunna Stadium last week it was like last season all over again, with Commerce producing four goals in a ferocious second half onslaught to thrash a hapless Ministry of Defense 5-1.

It was almost a carbon-copy of the corresponding fixture last season when Commerce triumphed 4-0, thanks to a first-half hat trick from Myo Naing Oo.

This time the goals were spread more evenly, with winger Min Ko Ko and second-half sub Sa Htet Naing Win both netting a brace and striker Htoo Kyaw also adding his name to the scoresheet. The only consolation for Defense was an improbable goal by defender Aung Thura Win that – for three minutes – reduced the margin back to two goals.

The most distressing thing for football fans was the ease of Commerce’s victory; they appeared to cruise through the match, even without star midfielder Myo Min Htun.

In the early stages it was relatively even but Defense’s attacking problems were obvious. Beanpole strikers Ye Wai Yan Soe and Htun Htun Oo were constantly beaten in the air and lacked the speed or mobility needed to prise open a tight Commerce back four, led by captain Min Thu.

The lack of attacking power left the Defense midfielders and defenders constantly under pressure.

When in possession, Commerce – though nominally using a 4-4-2 system – had as many as four attackers, with Htoo Kyaw and Yar Zar Win Thein in the middle and Min Ko Ko and Bo Bo Aung on the left and right respec-tively.

This afforded Aung Myo Thant and Kyaw Zin Win room to pull the strings in the midfield and it was the latter who created the open-ing goal after 28 minutes.

His through ball left the opposition back four completely flat footed, allowing winger Min Ko Ko to sprint clear and round the Defense goalkeeper before finishing off the move with a simple tap-in.

The second half started as the first ended – with Commerce completely in control. The Commerce attack should have done better in the 47th minute when they found themselves three on one but Yar Zar Win Thein overhit his ball to Min Ko Ko, allowing goalkeeper Ko Ko Aung to gratefully collect the ball.

Defense tried to sit back and weather the onslaught but it always looked inevit-able Commerce would add to their tally. Yar Zar Win Thein looked the most likely to score and on 60 minutes he forced a diving save from Ko Ko Aung with a curling shot from outside the box.

Just two minutes later Kyaw Zin Win and Min Ko Ko combined again to double Commerce’s lead – with some help from the Defense backs, who played Min Ko Ko onside. He made no mistake, shooting emphat-ically past Ko Ko Aung.
Yar Zar Win Thein then wasted a golden oppor-tunity, failing to capitalise when he found himself one-on-one with Ko Ko Aung.

On 67 minutes he made amends by creating Comm-erce’s third for sub Sa Htet Naing Win, who shot truly from just inside the box.

The third goal briefly sparked Defense into life and they were – fortuitously – rewarded. Commerce defen-der Zaw Zaw Aung’s attem-pted clearance in the 73rd minute was blocked by Aung Thura Win, the ricochet rocketing into the back of the net and giving keeper Zaw Moe Htet no chance.

Just three minutes later Commerce’s three-goal buffer was restored when Defense keeper Ko Ko Aung allowed a tame header from striker Htoo Kyaw to dribble through his legs and over the goal line. Sa Htet Naing Win finished the rout in the 88th minute, when he trapped a Min Thu cross and shot powerfully past Ko Ko Aung in the Defense goal.