Myanmar’s Ngwe Zin Lay (centre) jostles for control of the ball with Australia’s Stephanie Catley at Thuwanna Stadium on October 16.

A RAMPAGING Australia knocked Myanmar out of the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) Women’s U-16 Champ-ionship 2009 at Thuwanna Stadium on October 16.

The 6-1 result relegated Myanmar to a third-placed playoff against Vietnam on October 18, while Australia was due to face Thailand in the final on the same day.

The game started with controversy – a goal scored in the opening 10 seconds that could just as easily have ended up as a free kick to Myanmar’s goalkeeper, Zar Zar Myint.

Instead, Zar Zar Myint – who is also Myanmar’s captain – was taken from the ground on a stretcher after a heavy collision with striker Tara Andrews.

Such contests normally end with a free kick to the keeper and a warning to the forward but in this case it finished with a goal for Caitlin Friend, who seized on the loose ball to score an easy opener.

To their credit Myanmar put the controversy behind them and focused on counter-attacking football, waiting for the taller and larger Australian players to make an offensive mistake and then rush the ball to the other end of the pitch.

This ploy paid dividends – in slightly unexpected fashion – in the ninth minute. A floated free kick from Ferida Saw Su Htwe from outside the box fooled the Aussie keeper, Brianna Davey, into coming forward when she should have stayed on her line to catch the ball.

The goal was the first conceded by the Australians in the tournament.
At least 5000 fans – mainly schoolchildren dressed in their traditional white shirts and green longyis – screamed their support for the home side, who responded by snuffing out each and every Aussie assault until the 40th minute, when Samantha Kerr broke through. In what appeared a well-practised set piece, a corner kick was looped to the back post – beyond the keeper’s reach – where it found Kerr, who made no mistake.

That goal was quickly followed up by a third through Alanna Kennedy before the whistle for half time sounded.

The whistle also signalled home time for many of the young Myanmar fans, who were marshalled out of the stadium by parents and teachers and whisked home.

The opening minutes of the second half were tense, with neither side able to find a way through to goal, although the Aussies pushed time and time against Myanmar’s defence.

On 56 minutes, Caitlin Foord shot brilliantly from inside the box but was thwarted by the crossbar. However, the ball rebounded back into play and was pounced upon by Tara Andrews who netted Australia’s fourth goal.

Midfielder Brittany Whitfield contributed a fifth goal on 77 minutes from the left side of penalty box and the final goal was scored by defender Emily Van Egmond from the penalty spot after an Australian player was brought down in the box.

At the post-match press conference Myanmar coach U Win Myint Thwin said.
“I am satisfied with my players’ efforts because the opponents were taller and generally had better football skills. My players did well not to concede too many goals,” he said.

Australian coach Robert Hooker also noted the efforts of Myanmar’s defensive line.

“Myanmar defended hard in the first half and put us under a lot of pressure.
“But the girls generally played a good game against a different type of opponent who gave us the hardest game thus far in the competition,” he said.