Plucky Myanmar hold Vietnam in opener
A lacklustre Vietnam had to settle for a share of the spoils in their 2012 AFF Suzuki Cup Group A opener on Saturday after being held to a 1-1 draw by Myanmar.
By Gabriel Tan at the Rajamangala Stadium
Following a sluggish start during which their goal was threatened on several occasions, Vietnam eventually broke the deadlock five minutes after the half-hour mark when Le Tan Tai scored with a looping header.
Nonetheless, the White Angels refused to be deterred and eventually equalised nine minutes into the second half when Kyi Lin netted from the spot after being fouled by Au Van Hoan.
The result will undoubtedly be disappointing for Vietnam given they were handed the easier of the Group A starts, with Thailand facing Philippines in Saturday's other game.
But despite being ranked huge outsiders going into the game, Myanmar started the brighter of the two teams and nearly carved open the opposition defence as early as the sixth minute when Yan Aung Kyaw's penetrating pass nearly sent Kyi Lin racing through down the right, with Vietnam only saved by a vital sliding clearance from Nguyen Gia Tu.
Three minutes later, they came closer when Naing Lin Oo latched onto a loose ball on the edge of the area and curled a left-footed effort just wide of the bottom corner.
By now, Vietnam were looking completely rattled at the way they were being dominated by their less-illustrious opponents and in the 18th minute, Kyi Lin left his marker for dead down the right with a terrific burst of pace before whipping in a dangerous cross, only for Gia Tu to once again come to his side's rescue with a desperate clearance before Yan Paing could pounce.
However, the numerous close shaves did eventually spark the Red Warriors to life and they took the lead with their first effort on goal when Tan Tai met a sublime freekick from Pham Thanh Luong at the near post with a looping header that sailed over Thiha Sithu and into the back of the net.
Seven minutes after the break, it could easily have been 2-0 as Vietnam pushed forward in a sweeping move and shifted the ball right to Nguyen Trong Hoang, who drilled a cross into the box that Huynh Quoc Anh fired just wide.
A minute later, Myanmar were handed an excellent opportunity to equalise when Kyi Lin burst down the left and made his way into the box before drawing a foul from Au Van Hoan, leaving referee El Haddad Andre with no choice but to point to the spot.
The 20-year-old picked himself up and proceeded to blast home an effort that Duong Hong Son got a glove to but could not keep out, handing his side a well-deserved equaliser.
On the hour mark, Kyi Lin threatened the opponents' goal again when he latched onto a Khin Maung Lwin pass and turned his opponent sharply, before firing a shot straight at Hong Son from 20 yards.
Vietnam were then unlucky not to edge ahead again in the 70th minute when Quoc Anh picked up the ball on the edge of the area and sent a dipping shot back off the crossbar, with Thiha Sithu beaten all ends up.
Nonetheless, Kyi Lin was really proving to be the star of the show and a minute later, he beat Nguyen Minh Duc in a battle of strength to meet a speculative over-the-top ball, but his attempted lob was alertly kept out by the onrushing Hong Son.
The Yangon United man showed another moment of pure brilliance in the 73rd minute when he sent Minh Duc in the wrong direction with an audacious fake, before racing through on goal.
However, he was perhaps a little too selfish by deciding to go it on his own and his shot was eventually blocked, when a pass to the unmarked Naing Lin Oo would probably have been the better option.
Ten minutes from time, Kyi Lin had yet another chance when he turned his marker on the edge of the area before firing a blistering effort just wide.
Vietnam then mustered one final effort to grab a winner in the closing stages but the best chance they could conjure up was in the 89th minute, when Nguyen Van Bien found space down the left and swung in a cross that was headed just over by fellow substitute Nguyen Vu Phong.
Vietnam: Duong Hong Son, Au Van Hoan, Nguyen Minh Duc, Nguyen Gia Tu, Dao Van Phong (Nguyen Van Bien 48'), Phan Thanh Hung, Le Tan Tai, Pham Thanh Luong, Nguyen Trong Hoang (Nguyen Vu Phong 81'), Huynh Quoc Anh, Le Cong Vinh (Nguyen Quang Hai 68').
Myanmar: Thiha Sithu, David Htan, Aung Hein Kyaw, Zaw Min Tun, Pyaye Phyo Aung, Yan Aung Kyaw (Thet Naing 79'), Phyo Ko Ko Thein, Khin Maung Lwin, Naing Lin Oo, Kyi Lin, Yan Paing (Kaung Si Thu 58').
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