GAMES TODAY
(Binan Stadium)
4 p.m. — Vietnam vs. Laos (Group B, men)
4 p.m. — Brunei vs. Thailand (Group B, men)
8 p.m. — Indonesia vs. Singapore (Group, men)
THE PHILIPPINES dropped a close 1-2 decision to Myanmar in Group A yesterday in the 30th Southeast Asian Games men’s football tournament in front of an animated and sizeable hometown crowd at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium.
Atoning for an earlier miscue, defender Justin Baas scored the Young Azkals’ lone goal in the 45th minute of the first half that ended in a 1-all deadlock off a feed by Dennis Chung, who was the hero in the Philippine squad’s 1-all draw against Cambodia last Monday
But striker Win Naing Tun struck the winning goal in the 79th that boosted the Burmese to the top of the group with four points while the hosts slipped to third place and remained with one point after their first setback in the five-team bracket.
Still playing at press time was the match between Timor Leste and Cambodia, with the winner moving up to second spot. Malaysia had a rest day.
Although the charges of Goran Milojevic began strong, it was Myanmar which took to the early lead as Aung Kung Mann caught Philippine goalie Anthony Pintus offguard after Baas was out of position in the 16th minute.
Just before the first half ended Chung chested a cross to Baas, who scored a point-blank marker to send the game tied at the break.
Midfielder Kaung Khant continued to probe the hosts’ defenses and he found a gap, assisting Naing Tun, who came rushing in for the marginal marker.
The Filipinos hope to regroup and will be gunning for their first win when they face the Malaysians on Friday at the resumption of Group A play.
