UNFANCIED Okkthar United scored two late goals to stun Delta United and claim their first win of the season at Aung San Stadium on May 28.

Delta opened the scoring 10 minutes into the second half before Okkthar substitute Kyaw Phyo Oo set up the equalising goal and then scored the winner 10 minutes from full time.

Okkthar head coach U Win Tin hailed his players mental toughness after they came back from a goal down to win 2-1 in poor conditions.

“The key to our win is our strong mind and belief in ourselves; we know that we need to work hard in every match to get a result. I am just so proud of my side – even though we don’t have much experience we could beat one of the ‘big’ teams, which has three foreign players,” he said at the post match press conference.

Delta head coach U San Win conceded his foreign players were yet to gel properly with the rest of the team.

“The players from Argentina have still not harmonised properly with their teammates. When they do, I think we will be able to perform much better and I will continue to play them, injuries permitting,” U San Win said.

“The loss was because of both poor technique and performance,” he continued. “I wasn’t satisfied with our style of play in the first half but we played well for about 15 minutes after scoring the first goal. Then we went too defensive.”

A dour opening 45 minutes offered little in the way of goalmouth action for fans but both sides threw caution to the wind as the rain poured down in the second half.

Delta United opened the scoring in the 55th minute through a lovely overhead kick by the lively Hla Aye Htwe but Okkthar hit back in farcical circumstances 20 minutes later. After good work on the left flank by Okkthar substitute Kyaw Phyo Oo, Delta failed to clear their lines and a miscued clearance rebounded off the head of man of the match Kyaw Thet Oo and past keeper Thiha Si Thu. After watching in surprise as the ball rippled the net, the midfielder charged the length of the pitch to where the Okkthar fans were gathered, leaping into the air just as a bolt of lightning crashed in the distance.

The goal came against the run of play and stunned the crowd at Aung San Stadium.

The momentum then swung completely to Okkthar and in the 80th minute Kyaw Phyo Oo completed a dream performance by trapping another poor clearance and smashing it past Thiha Si Thu, securing a valuable three points for his team.

Delta had several opportunities to extend their lead after scoring and had a goal disallowed in the 60th minute because of a foul by Hla Aye Htwe.