Football
Bahadoran scores 5 goals to lead PH past Myanmar in ASEAN futsal
Misagh Bahadoran scored all five of the Philippines’ goals as the national men’s futsal team squeaked past Myanmar, 5-4, at the start of the ASEAN Football Federation Futsal Championship Thursday in Bangkok.
The Filipino-Iranian Bahadoran, who is also a mainstay of the Azkals, got to work early, scoring two goals in the first three minutes of the match. After the break, Bahadoran continued his onslaught, scoring two more goals in the first three minutes of the second half.
Myanmar scored two goals in quick succession at the 26th and 29th minute, both courtesy of Pyae Phyo Maung, to threaten. But Bahadoran once again struck for the Philippine side, scoring another goal at the 30th minute.
Tin Win Ko Ko and Than Wunna Aung made things interesting, scoring at the 34th and 39th minute, respectively, for Myanmar. But the rally fell short, as Myanmar ran out of time allowing the Philippines to escape with the win.
The victory was a sweet one for the Philippine futsal team, which is coming off a miserable showing at the 2011 Southeast Asian Games last November, when it lost both of its matches in the group stage. Incidentally, Myanmar also lost both its matches at the SEA Games.
The campaign figures to get tougher for the Philippines, as they take on Vietnam on Friday. The Vietnamese battered the Filipino booters, 7-1, at the SEA Games.
After facing Vietnam, the Philippines will play Malaysia on Saturday before wrapping up its group stage campaign against Cambodia on Monday.
