JAKARTA, Dec 19: Dark horses Myanmar edged a step closer to the semifinals of the Tiger Cup on Thursday, beating Southeast Asian minnows Cambodia 5-0 in a mainly one-sided match here.

Fancied Vietnam also strengthened their bid to go through to the last four by trouncing Philippines 4-1.

Myanmar scored an opener three minutes into the second half when Zaw Zaw scored the first goal.

Twelve minutes later midfielder Lwin Oo headed the ball home. He scored his second goal when he fired the ball straight past the Cambodian goal keeper in the 80th minute.

But striker Zaw Htaik and Tint Naing Tun Thien added to Mynamar’s goal collection in the 74th and 85th minute.

Strikers Huynh Hong Son and Lee Huynh Duc scored two goals each against the Philippines Thursday to bring another deserved victory for Vietnam.

After failing to turn several good chances into goals, Vietnam finally scored an opener when Huynh Hong Son eluded Philippine defenders and kicked the ball home in the 60th minute.

Mercado foiled Lee Hyunh Duc’s penalty kick in the 49 minute. The penalty was awarded to Vietnam after Philippine defender Leo Gaena took Huynh Hong Son from behind.

However, Lee Hyunh Duc’s second attempt at the penalty kick in the 70th minute was successful even though Mercado could guess the direction of the ball.

Richard Canedo scored a consolation goal for the Philippines in the 77 minute.—AFP