Myanmar put seven goals past Indonesia at Chonburi IPE Stadium, while Vietnam racked up eight in the opening half-hour on the way to an eventual 10-0 win over Cambodia.
The results created a clear gulf on the Group B table, with Friday’s winners now in pole position to advance to the semi-finals.
MYANMAR 7-0 INDONESIA
Yee Yee Oo netted a hat-trick as Myanmar continued their recent dominance over Indonesia with a comprehensive 7-0 win.
Having put six goals past Indonesia as recently as April’s Tokyo Olympics 2020 Qualifiers, Myanmar went one better this time as their well-drilled and experienced line-up found little resistance from Rudolf Nere’s charges.
Yee Oo opened the scoring inside three minutes after her well-timed run caught the Indonesian defence cold, and Myanmar quickly went further ahead when Khaing Thazin’s long range strike ricocheted off the upright as well as goalkeeper Norfince Boma before nestling in the back of the net in the 17th minute.
Indonesia’s inability to clear their lines cost them another goal when Yee Oo added her second 10 minutes later, before Khin Moe Wai outpaced the back four to slam home the fourth goal just before half-time.
Having spurned a number of earlier chances, regular goal scorer Win Theingi got in on the act when she slammed home her first of the tournament in the 66th minute, before captain Khin Marlar Tun had the simplest of tasks to bring up the half-dozen 10 minutes later.
Fittingly, it was Yee Oo who had the final say, picking out the bottom corner in the 90th minute to bring up her treble; the second in succession against Indonesia.
VIETNAM 10-0 CAMBODIA
Nguyen Thi Bich Thuy and Pham Hai Yen netted seven goals between them as Vietnam outclassed Cambodia to ease to a 10-0 win in Friday’s later match.
Having only made their debut on the international stage in 2018, few expected Cambodia to challenge a side ranked sixth in Asia, and it took the reigning SEA Games gold medallists just three minutes to show their authority.
With fluid passing and movement showing the full benefits of their pre-tournament training camp in Japan, Vietnam scored a lovely opener through Huynh Nhu, who finished off a flowing team move with a free header at the back post, before an own goal doubled the tally four minutes later.
Huynh Nhu’s second made it three in the blink of an eye, before Hai Yan scored a tap-in, then rounded the goalkeeper for her second, and by the time Bich Thuy had become the latest player to net two quick goals Mai Duc Chung’s side were 7-0 up in the 19th minute.
The inevitable eighth came five minutes later, when Bich Thuy’s looped header completed her seven-minute hat-trick for a Vietnamese side clearly a class above their opponents.
With the result beyond doubt, Huynh Nhu was replaced early, and, despite no shortage of chances to add to their tally, Vietnam’s scoring spree largely dried up as Cambodia made it to half-time without sustaining further damage.
In fact, Oum Savong’s charges managed to keep their opponents at bay until the 84th minute, with goalkeeper Khong Thi Hang making several saves before a dreadful defensive mix-up allowed Pham to score the easiest of her three goals.
Despite Cambodia’s second-half improvement, Bich Thuy headed in her fourth and final goal in the 89th minute as Vietnam raced to the top off the table with their biggest win in over a year.
Vietnam will look for more of the same when they continue their campaign against Indonesia on Sunday, while Cambodia will face another title contender in their meeting with Myanmar.
Saturday (all times local): Singapore v Thailand (15:00), Timor-Leste v Philippines (18:00)
Photos: Football Association of Thailand
