Tan Tai gave Vietnam a 1-0 lead in the first half, but Kyi Lin equalised for Myanmar from the penalty spot.
Heavy rains at Rajamangala stadium prevented the two teams from showing their playing tactics.
Vietnamese players celebrating their first goal from Tan Tai's header (Photo: Minh Hoang)
Coach Phan Thanh Hung’s men started the game with the pressing tactic, aiming to win three points before taking on the Philippines in the next Group A match.
Myanmar produced evidence of the huge threat on 6 minutes when Kyi Lin capitalised on an incorrect pass from a Vietnamese player and made a superb shot just outside the penalty box.
Vietnamese goalie Hong Son failed to save the ball, but luckily the ball went wide of the bar.
Though Vietnam possessed the ball most of the time, their Myanmar rivals really tested goalie Hong Son.
On 18 minutes, five Vietnamese players could not repel two Myanmar players from breaking the defence line, and it was in-form striker Kyi Lin again who ventured down the right wing and set up for his team mate.
Fortunately, a Vietnamese defender was in time to divert the ball away from the penalty box.
Vietnam continued dominating the game, with full attacking intent, but the rain affected their performance.
Six minutes later Thanh Luong made a quick shot from outside the box and Myanmar’s goalkeeper Thiha Sithu fell down in time to save the ball.
The Vietnamese players’ scoring efforts paid off on 34 minutes when Thanh Luong set up from a left-wing free kick for Tan Tai who headed the ball inside the net, giving Vietnam a 1-0 lead.
Seven minutes after the intervals, Quoc Anh should have extended Vietnam’s lead after receiving the ball from Trong Hoang’s pass. However, the ball again went wide far of the post.
Myanmar responded immediately with a counterattack, and Kyi Lin was fouled by Minh Duc in the box. Kyi Lin was awarded a penalty kick and he converted it into a goal.
The 20-year-old striker continued to pose threats to the Vietnamese goal when he outplayed his rivals before being stopped by the defence line.
Quoc Anh and Tan Tai carved out scoring chances, yet the ball either hit the woodwork or was well saved by Thiha Sithu.
No more goals were scored until the referee blew the last whistle.
