Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Yangon: Arema Indonesia dealt a blow to Ayeyawady United's hopes of reaching the last 16 of the AFC Cup with a 3-0 victory over the Myanmar club on Tuesday.
Ayeyawady entered the match tied with Malaysia's Kelantan and Vietnam's Navibank on seven points at the top of Group H but first-half goals by Putut Waringin Jati, Ahmad Amiruddin and Talaohu Abdul Musafri put the Indonesian side on course for their first win in the competition.
The home side were much improved in the second half but could not find a way past Arema goalkeeper Deniss Romanovs as they suffered their first home defeat in the competition.
"They played very hard today while our players made many mistakes," said Ayeyawady coach Jozef Herel.
"Our players played under pressure because they knew that a win would help us to go on to the next round. Still, we have a chance to reach the next round if we can win our next match."
Arema were all but out of contention for a spot in the knockout stage after they had picked up only a single point from their first four games in the group. But they stunned the home side at the Youth Training Centre when they opened the scoring after 10 minutes.
Amiruddin's cross from the left towards Australian striker Andrew Barisic was headed away by Nay Myo Aung but the ball fell on the right of the box to Putut, who had time and space to measure his shot before curling a superb effort past goalkeeper Thiha Si Thu for his second goal of the competition.
The home side had the chance to draw level midway through the half when a low free-kick from the left found Jupiter Ngangue in the six-yard box but the Nigerian striker scuffed his effort which went into the grateful arms of Romanovs.
Ayeyawady made little headway in attack otherwise in the first half and they were caught on the counterattack in the 28th minute when Amiruddin burst clear on the left before slipping the ball past Thiha Si Thu to make it 2-0.
Miroslav Latiak tested Romanovs with a stinging effort in the 38th minute that was palmed away by the goalkeeper before Ayeyawady found themselves three goals down when Musafri struck just before half-time.
The defender played the ball to the left flank to Amiruddin and advanced into the box to tap home when the winger's low cross eluded the Ayeyawady defenders.
Ayeyawady turned up the pressure in the second half as they desperately tried to get back into the game.
Romanovs tipped over a shot by Ngangue in the 67th minute while substitute Naing Lin Oo fired over the crossbar from close range in the 76th minute.
In stoppage time, Romanovs made a couple of excellent reflex saves to deny Ngangue and preserve a fine clean sheet for the Indonesian side.
"I think our players played good football today," said Arema coach Dejan Antonic.
"They deserve the win because they tried. Even though we have no chance to move forward to the next round, we tried hard today."