26 May

TAUNGGYI based Shan United defeated Rakhine United 4-0 in the  1st  leg  of  the  the  General  Aung San Shield 2019 semifinal at Thuwunna Stadium in Yangon yesterday.

Winning goals for Shan Unit-ed were scored by Emanuel, Zin Min Tun and Swan Lam Mang.

Shan United used its main players in yesterday’s match, in-cluding goal keeper cum captain Thiha Sithu, David Htan, Zin Min Tun, Emmanuel and Shwe Ko.

Rakhine  United  also  lined  up  with  key  players,  including  goalkeeper Tay Zr Aung, Captain Nyein Chan, Kelvin and Yakubu.

Shan dominated the match from the start, with accurate at-tacks plus an effective midfield defence,  while  Rakhine  United  mostly relied upon their defen-sive play.

Shan United score its open-ing goal at the 10 minute mark, as the goal was scored by Shan United expat player Emmanuel.

Again,  Shan  scored  their  second goal due to the effort of Shan’s Zin Min Tun, when Rakh-ine United’s keeper did not block the ball. The first half ended with a score of 2-0.

In  the  second  half,  the  in-tensity  on  field  increased,  with  both teams improving their play.

At 59 minutes, Shan gained its  third  goal  with  Suan  Lam  Mang’s score.

Shan  United  had  more  op-portunities, as Rakhine United’s defence line waned, and Zin Min Tun  scored  the  third  goal  for  Shan at 71 minutes.

Rakhine   United   finally   mounted  an  attack  just  before  the match end with its strikers putting forth maximum efforts, but all their attacks were thwart-ed  by  the  efficient  clearance  of  Shan’s  defenders,  plus  keeper  Thiha Sithu.

With  the  win,  Shan  United  is  in  a  good  position  to  reach  the Final. Shan United will next take  on  Rakhine  United  in  the  decisive 2nd leg of the General Aung San Sheilf semifinal at the home  stadium  of  the  Rakhine  United  in  Sittwe  on  1  June.—Lynn Thit(Tgi)