Tue, 30 Nov, -0001
Yangon: Myanmar league champions Yangon United scored two first-half goals in the space of two minutes as they beat Maldives side New Radiant 2-0 on Wednesday to maintain their perfect record in the AFC Cup.
Yangon have struggled of late in their domestic league but they put their recent poor run behind them with goals by Adama Kone and Aung Moe at the Youth Training Centre sealing their third consecutive victory in the continental tournament as they moved three points clear at the top of Group F.
With striker Ashfaq Ali hampered by injury, New Radiant were unable to muster a response as they dropped their first points of the campaign. However, they remained solidly in second spot in the group with six points, five ahead of Indonesia’s Persibo and Hong Kong’s Sunray Cave JC Sun Hei, who drew 3-3 in Tuesday’s other Group F game.
Yangon entered the match trailing New Radiant on goal difference but they began the match well and took the lead in the 16th minute through Cote d’Ivoire striker Kone.
The Ivorian received a pass from captain Yaza Win Thein on the right flank and brought the ball towards the centre before firing it into the corner of the net.
The home side extended their lead just two minutes later through a fine solo effort by Aung Win, who made a mazy run through the New Radiant defence before he rounded goalkeeper Mohamed Imran and slotted the ball into the unguarded net.
New Radiant’s hopes of a comeback were dashed when star striker Ashfaq, who scored five goals in his side’s 7-0 thumping of Persibo three weeks ago, had to be taken off injured just a half-hour into the game.
And despite exerting much of the pressure after the break, the Maldivian side were unable to find a way past goalkeeper Naing Zayar Tun as they suffered their first defeat in Group F.
Having seen his side suffer back-to-back losses in the Myanmar National League, Yangon coach Ivan Kolev was delighted with their display on Wednesday.
“We have lost our last two league games to our local rivals so there was a lot of pressure on us to get a result tonight,” said the Bulgarian.
“But we have done well so far in the AFC Cup and now that we have taken nine points from three games, we can hope to go to the next round.
“I much congratulate all of my players today for this result. But I also want to praise our defence because they played very well and did not concede any goals tonight.”
New Radiant coach Velizar Popov is hoping for a better performance by his side when they meet Yangon United again in Male next Tuesday.
“We had some problems today especially when we lost Ashfaq Ali, who had to be substituted after only 30 minutes,” said Popov.
“We didn’t play well today but we will play against Yangon again next week and I believe we can play better in our home match and get the win.”