Myanmar routs Philippines, 4-1, in Asean Football Championship-Hyundai Cup – BusinessWorld Online
MYANMAR rained on the Philippines’ planned opening — gig party in the Asean Football Championship-Hyundai Cup, handing the home side a numbing 1-4 loss on Tuesday night at the New Clark City Stadium.
Than Paing fired a brace to lead the Burmese onslaught against a youth-laden Philippine squad that struggled to keep up with a more seasoned opponent amid the wet conditions in the Group B fixture in Capas, Tarlac.
Philippine coach Carles Cuadrat, who is fielding a crew with an average age of 25 and featuring only two players above 30, called it a “learning match” as he lamented that his wards took too long to adapt following heavy rain before kickoff.
“Myanmar had more experienced players who managed the situation better. They understood how the water would slow the ball and adapted their game accordingly,” he said of the Burmese, who barged into the win column after dropping its first assignment against Malaysia, 1-2. “These conditions are part of football, and we have to learn how to remain competitive in such circumstances.”
It was a disappointing result for the Pinoy booters, who thoroughly dominated Myanmar the last time they met, 5-1, in the PFF Tri-Nations Tournament at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.
Mr. Cuadrat’s side also tasted defeat for the first time in nine matches over the last two years, ending a string of victories or draws that came after its 1-3 defeat to Thailand in the second leg of the previous edition’s semifinals in December 2024.
The Filipinos will try to bounce back on Saturday in an away assignment against Laos (0-2) in Vientiane. — Olmin Leyba