Defending champions Vietnam and Myanmar stomped on their separate rivals yesterday to move closer to a showdown for Group A leadership in the AFF Women’s Championship 20 at the Binan Stadium in Laguna.
After a slow start, Vietnam cranked it up to whip Laos, 5-0, while the Myanmar blanked Cambodia, 3-0, to pickup up their second consecutive wins in continuing their close fight for top spot in the five-team group B.
Strikers Huyn Nhu (46th and 72nd minutes) and Pham Hai Yen (57th and 65th) had a brace each while Pham Hoang Quynh netted the other goal in the 42nd as the defending champions now have a total of six points and were in second spot.
Myanmar also had a sluggish beginning until skipper Khin Marlar Tun struck the back of the net in the 34th while Myat Noe Kin (61st) and Khin Moe Wai (87th) had the two other goals in the second half to go on six points only ahead on goal difference.
Benefitting from their 7-0 shellacking of Timor Leste last Tuesday, coach Thet Thet Win’s wards had a plus-10 goal difference to the Vietnamese’s plus-8.
After enjoying their brief stay on top, the Laotians absorbed their first loss and dropped to third with four points while the Cambodians slipped down to fourth with one point. Winless in two games, Timor Leste hogged the cellar.
Vietnam and Myanmar are virtually assured of seats in the crossover semifinals and can formalize their entry into the next round when they take on Timor Leste and Laos, respectively, on Monday back at the Binan Stadium.
