Vietnam vs Myanmar - Friendlies live score, lineups and commentary

Vietnam's early blitz settles it

Vietnam put Myanmar to the sword inside the opening quarter-hour at Thai Nguyen Stadium, scoring twice before half-time to establish a stranglehold that never loosened. An unnamed Vietnamese player broke the deadlock in the fifth minute, and the home side's grip tightened when X. M. Pham added a second on 39 minutes. Myanmar offered nothing in response. The damage was done before the interval.

Two more goals in the second half - one in the 59th minute and a fourth at 90 minutes, both from unnamed scorers - turned a competitive fixture into a rout. The final scoreline of 4-0 flattered Myanmar's resistance, though in truth there was little to speak of. Vietnam's 4-1-4-1 shape gave them control throughout, with Trương Tiến Anh sitting deep and the attacking quartet of Nguyễn Tài Lộc, Nguyễn Hoàng Đức, Nguyễn Quang Hải and Đỗ Hoàng Hên operating with freedom in the middle. Nguyễn Xuân Son led the line and had space to work in.

Myanmar's 4-2-3-1, anchored by Kyaw Min Oo and Lwin Moe Aung in midfield, was overrun from the start. San Satt Naing had little to do in the Myanmar goal for long stretches, a sign of how one-sided proceedings became. The back four of Hein Phyo Win, Soe Moe Kyaw, Hein Zeyar Lin and Nanda Kyaw were constantly under siege. There was no recovery, no second-half adjustment that altered the trajectory. Vietnam simply played through them.

A chastening afternoon for Myanmar

This was a friendly in name only. Myanmar travelled to Thai Nguyen expecting a test; they left having been dismantled. The visitors created nothing of note. Myat Kaung Khant, Win Naing Tun and Than Paing offered little support to the overworked defence, and Maung Maung Lwin could not impose himself on the game. By the time the fourth goal arrived in the closing seconds, Myanmar's players were going through the motions.

Patrik Lê Giang, Vietnam's goalkeeper, was barely troubled. The home side's full-backs - Phạm Xuân Mạnh and Đoàn Văn Hậu - pushed forward at will. Nguyễn Nhật Minh and Nguyễn Thành Chung held firm in the centre. Vietnam controlled every phase. This was a statement of intent from the hosts, a show of force that leaves no doubt about the gulf in class between the two sides at this moment.