Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Yangon: Host nation Myanmar played out a 0-0 draw with Yemen in their AFC U-19 Championship Group A opener at Thuwunna Youth Training Centre Stadium on Thursday.
Myanmar gave the visitors trouble with their pace and agility but they lacked a cutting edge in the final third which meant they struggled to find a way to break the deadlock against their resolute opponents who themselves had a goal disallowed on 70 minutes through Mohammed Al Dahi.
The home nation now look forward to Saturday when they will face a Thailand team who upset favourites Iran with a 2-1 victory earlier in the day to top Group A.
"It was good football, we had possession of the ball for large chunks of the game but I can't score goals for them from the bench. Aung Thu had a bad day, since his injury in Brunei he's still not in the shape we need," said Myanmar's German coach Gerd Zeise.
"All Arabian teams have more experience, they are tough, they are strong, they use their body, sometimes they were not fast enough and they committed fouls."
The first half started and continued at a high tempo, with both sides attempting to play passing football but Myanmar in particular suffering from a lack of potency in the box.
This was characterised by a weak finish in the 17th minute from Nyein Chan Aung, who when free and advancing into the left hand side of the box, trundled the ball towards the keeper.
For all Myanmar's effort, the best chance of the half fell to Yemen when Al Dahi hit the box running and leathered the ball into the near post. Players arrived late into the area and attempted to latch onto the ricocheting ball but somehow it managed to chart a path through all the advancing players.
One thing the home nation's mazy style of running did do was draw a high number of fouls from a Yemen side, who at times struggled to cope with the host team's pace.
The second half very much followed the pattern of the first but as the 70th minute approached, Yemen upped their aggression. A cross into the box left Myanmar's defence idly watching as Yemen defender Ala Addin Mahdi and Al Dahi scrambled with goalkeeper Myo Min Latt until the ball sat in the back of the net.
The crowd sat quiet before a roar was unleashed to celebrate the referee spotting his assistants waving flag and disallowing the goal.
Myanmar responded by once again turning to their pace but the final pass continued to let the hosts down and chances proved elusive as the game ended goalless.
"Myanmar's strength is their supporters, their weakness is their striking and scoring goals," said Yemen's coach Ahmed Qasem.
"It was a difficult match, we missed some big chances but the draw is not bad for both teams, we both have one point and the tournament is still on."