Indonesia shocked by 2-1 upset

Myanmar’s Min Thu (right) tackles Indonesia’s Maman Abdurahman during the Merdeka Cup final match at the Shah Alam Stadium near Kuala Lumpur, 29 August 2006. Myanmar defeated Indonesia 2-1 to win the 38th Merdeka Cup Tournament. Pic: AFP

MYANMAR opened a new chapter in its football history on Tuesday night, edging out Indonesia 2-1 in the Merdeka Cup final to bring home Myanmar’s fourth Merdeka trophy and the first in 35 years.
Myanmar started the final at Kuala Lumpur’s Shah Alam Stadium with defensive play before putting the Indonesians on their toes with some strong pushes to the Indonesian penalty area.

Ranked at 164 by FIFA, Myanmar were the underdogs of the four-country tournament but dazzled the 30,000 crowd on Tuesday with strikes by Kyaw Thuya in the 61st minute and skipper Soe Myat Min in the 85th.

The young Myanmar side, with an average age of 22 and led by fill-in head coach U San Win, shocked the fancied Indonesians, who were under the guidance of former England and Aston Villa striker Peter Withe.

With a goalless draw at halftime, Myanmar entered the second stanza without making any substitutions.

The team’s first real chance came in the 46th minute, but Kyaw Thuya failed to convert the delivery from captain Soe Myat Min and sent the ball narrowly over the crossbar.

Kyaw Thuya found his target 15 minutes later to break the deadlock by crashing a rebound into the top right corner from 20 metres out.

A header from Soe Myat Min off a curling corner kick by Min Thu took Myanmar to 2-0 in the 85th minute before Indonesia managed a consolation goal through Zaena Arif two minutes later.

Despite dominating possession throughout the match, Indonesia failed to capitalise on the numerous chances that came their way.

Zaw Lin Tun led Myanmar’s defensive efforts with an outstanding display to keep the Indonesians, ranked at 146, frustrated at the final whistle and secure the US$10,000 prize money.

“The players performed very well in each and every minute of the match,” said Myanmar Football Federation technical director U Soe Myint Lwin, expressing his gratitude to the team for ending Myanmar’s drought and bringing a trophy home.

“I am very hopeful that this success will carry over to other competitions and we will once again be able to claim that we are the best side in Southeast Asia,” he said.

The team’s strategy – and the lack of one from Indonesia – had been crucial to Myanmar’s success, he added.

“Individually, our team was weaker than Indonesia's. But the tactics employed by Myanmar in the match were much better than those of Indonesia. Their coach Peter Withe failed to change the play even when Myanmar became increasingly threatening around their goal,” he said.

Myanmar manager U Thein Aung said he was very pleased with the team’s performance throughout the tournament.

“Of course it was a tough fight but our players have shown their prowess and were eagerly waiting to grab the Merdeka Cup trophy,” he told Malaysian media.

The win marks the return to success at the Merdeka Cup after last taking the final in a 1-0 rout of Indonesia in 1971, following wins in 1964 and 1967.

More than 5000 Myanmar fans cheered on the side as they reached the final at the top of the table this year after beating Malaysia 2-1, drawing with Thailand 2-2 and holding Indonesia 0-0.

Hosts Malaysia were deeply disappointed by their performance at the tournament held to mark their national day on August 31.

Myanmar, meanwhile, are rejoicing in the much-needed victory that looks set to spark new life into the national passion.