MYANMAR’S women’s football team bowed out of the XXX­III South-East Asia (SEA) Games following a 2-0 defeat to Vietnam in their final Group B match on 11 December in Chonburi, Thailand.

Having won their first two group matches, Myanmar needed only a draw against Vi­etnam to reach the semifinals. However, the loss in the final group game ended their cam­paign, marking the first time Myanmar exited at the group stage and narrowly missing out on a medal for the second consecutive SEA Games.

Head coach Yuki fielded a squad that included Myo Mya Mya Nyein, Yupa Khine, San Thaw Thaw, and Win Theingi Tun. Vietnam applied intense pressure from the outset, forc­ing Myanmar into errors and creating scoring opportunities. Within the first 15 minutes, My­anmar conceded two goals – Ngo Thi Binh in eight minutes and Nguyen Thi Vy in 14 min­utes – and struggled to mount a meaningful attack thereafter.

Meanwhile, in Group B’s other match, the Philippines defeated Malaysia 6-0 to se­cure a semifinal spot. Vietnam topped the group, the Phil­ippines finished second, and Myanmar, tied on points with the Philippines, Malaysia, was eliminated due to goal differ­ence.

The semifinals are sched­uled for 14 December, featuring Vietnam versus Indonesia and host Thailand versus the Philip­pines. — Shine Htet Zaw/KZL