Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Yangon: Goals from Kyaw Ko Ko and Marcelo Fernandes sealed a 2-1 comeback win for Yangon United as the Myanmar National League champions defeated visitors South China of Hong Kong in their AFC Cup Group G opener on Wednesday.
The away side had taken the lead in the 15th minute at Myanmar’s Youth Training Centre Stadium as Australian striker Ryan Griffiths followed up on his own saved penalty only for Yangon forward Kyaw Ko Ko to level the scores just four minutes later.
And following the break, Brazilian Fernandes needed just three minutes to put the hosts ahead in the tie, and despite Yan Aung Kyaw’s dismissal after 54 minutes after the midfielder picked up a second yellow card, Yangon held onto their lead.
“We showed a good performance, good spirit and tactically we were perfect today,” said Yangon coach Marjan Sekulovski.
“The match didn’t start well for us, but our spirit brought us back and we adapted well to the sending off.
“On Monday we worked on some different systems with Kyi Lin in midfield, so when he was needed, he was ready.”
Having reached the quarter-finals last year, South China made the ideal start to their 2016 campaign as Griffiths was first to react after seeing his penalty saved by Yangon’s Brazilian goalkeeper Luiz Fernando.
But Yangon quickly found a response as Kyaw Ko Ko drove down the right hand side of the opposition area in the 19th minute and unleashed a wild shot that left goalkeeper Leung Hing Kit helpless.
And Yangon thought they had completed the turnaround five minutes before half-time, but Fernandes’ header was ruled out.
But after spending much of the first half chasing down the opposition defence, Fernandes’ hard work paid off in the 48th minute when the visitors defence was caught napping by the Brazilian and the striker netted with a first chance strike from the top of the area that ricocheted into the net via the inside of the far post.
Yangon did have to play the final 36 minute with 10-men as Yan Aung Kyaw was sent-off, but South China were unable to make use of their numerical advantage.
“I think today we played better than Yangon,” said South China coach Casemiro Mior.
“In the first minute we missed the best chance of the game. We took the lead, but then we gave it away, it was our mistake.
“In the second half they had one shot and scored, but we couldn’t put the ball in the back of the net.”
Photo: Lagardère Sports