HBT: Myanmar put 8 past Philippines

WIN is his name and Myanmar captain Kyaw Zayar Win helped his team do just that.

Zayar Win hit a hat-trick as Myanmar outclassed the Philippines 8-2 in the opening match of the Hassanal Bolkiah Trophy at the Balapan Track & Field, in Berakas, yesterday.

Nai Aih Naing, Thien Than Win, Kaung Sithu also found the net before two-goal hero Thiet Naing completed the rout.

Than Win and Aih Naing scored two goals in the 13th and 14th minutes to give Myanmar an early 2-0 lead.

Midfielder Marvin Janver Malinay Angeles scored in the 39th minute to make it 2-1. His twin brother Marvin Janwer Malinay Angeles also featured in the game, but the 'twin force' was not enough to help the Azkals, who failed to control the midfield battle.

Myanmar's third goal saw Zayar Win make a clever run to dribble past goalkeeper Paulo Pasqual to increase his team's lead in the 45th minute.

Park Sung-hwa's boys started the second half firing when Sithu scored in the 46th minute and Zayar Win converted two penalties in the 49th and 67th minutes to complete his hat-trick.

Thiet Naing scored the seventh in the 75th minute.

Joshua Beloya then pulled one back in the 85th minute only to see Thiet Naing add the eighth in stoppage time.

"We started well, but we committed big errors and when you conceded that many goals against a good team ... it could affect your confidence.

"We need to work harder and play as a team," said Philippine coach Zoran Dordevic at the post- match Press conference yesterday.

Myanmar star Kyaw Ko Ko, his country's dangerman at the South East Asian (SEA) Games in Indonesia last year, was surprisingly quiet throughout yesterday's game.

Myanmar will face Indonesia on Feb 28.

The Azkals, meanwhile, will play Laos tomorrow. Both games start at 8.15pm at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium, in Berakas. The Brunei Times