Pinays hang tough but bow to Myanmar

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines held Myanmar to a scoreless draw in the first half but yielded two goals in the next as it absorbed a 1-2 setback at the start of the 2013 AFC U-16 Women’s Championship at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium Wednesday night.

Midfielder Wai Zin Hnin and substitute Phyu Hnin Thwe struck with two goals in a nine-minute stretch early in the second half as Myanmar raced to a 2-0 lead before Fil-Australian Shannon Arthur scored on a spectacular penalty shot off Myanmar’s defensive wall and the long hands of goalie Thandar Oo just outside the box late in regulation.

But the hosts ran out of time, enabling Myanmar to annex the victory in a virtual repeat of its 1-0 win over the Phl in a 2010 event in Vietnam.

“It’s a heartbreaker but at least we showed them we could compete with anyone,” said the 15-year-old Arthur, a second year high school student at Colegio de San Agustin who has been playing for the national team the last three years.

With the loss, the Filipinas must sweep their last two games against the Thais today and the Australians on Sunday to contend for one of the two slots in the 2014 U-17 Women’s World Cup in Costa Rica. 

“We have no choice but to win our last two games, we just have to make some adjustments,” said Phl coach Norman Fegidero.

Top seed Australia opened its title drive by clobbering Thailand, 5-1, with Tia Gavin leading the way with a brace.