Giant of a win by underdog Laos in SEAG football opener

Game today (Panaad Complex) 4:30 p.m. -- Malaysia vs Cambodia  

BACOLOD – The first victory ever scored in the 23 rd Southeast Asian Games went not to the traditional powerhouses in the region but to lowly Laos Sunday night as its football team won the opening match of the event via a 3-2 upset of favored Myanmar at the Bacolod City Sports complex here.  

Visay Phaphouvanin scored two goals, including one on a penalty kick in the 79th minute that proved to be the marginal point as the Laotians made a rousing start in this year's games after placing last in its group in Vietnam two years ago.  

Phaphouvin earned the decisive penalty kick on a hard tackle by Khin Maung Tun that drew yellow card.  

“This is good news for our country. This is big considering the fact that we're ranked lower than Myanmar,” said Laos ' Russian coach Valeriv Valirey through an interpreter.  

Vietnam staved off what could have been a double shocker in the other game as it repulsed Singapore, 2-1 after trailing 0-1 early in the contest. Standout Phan Van Nguyen scored both goals for the favored Vietnamese.  

Myanmar, a semifinalist in the Vietnam Games two years ago, actually converted an inside-the-box tight shot through Soe Myat Min towards the end but it was ruled off-side by the linesmen.   In an earlier play, Khin Maung Tun's potential game-tying short header bounced off the bar to the big disappointment of the Myanmar bench and a sizeable crowd in the venue formerly known as Paglaum.  

The Laotians, a no-show in the pre-SEA Games tournament in Bangkok last October, started out aggressively with Bavone Vongsamany breaking the ice with a simple roller in the eight minute after breaking free from a phalanx of Myanmar defenders.

Myanmar, however drew even at 1-all on a cross shot by Min off an assist by Yan Paing in the 19th minute.

Laos seized the initiative again after the break with Phaphouvanin scoring his first goal in the match on a tap-in off a feed by Mar La in the 65th minute.  

In a match that turned extra rugged in the final half, Myanmar equalized for the second and last time on another tap-in by Chanthalome Putthadavong with nineminutes left in the clock.  

Several rough plays marred the contest with coach Valirey fearing they may miss at least three of their regular starters in the next game due to injuries. Laos will be facing Vietnam tomorrow. (CF)