Indonesia, playing their finest football since the start of this year's Tiger Cup, whitewashed Myanmar 5-0 here at the 700th Anniversary Stadium before an estimated crowd of almost 13,000 fans.

"It was a different Indonesia out there today", said David Booth, coach of Myanmar after he saw his team demolished by a blistering second half performance.

Such was the powerful display that it had many wondering why the Indonesians were so meek against Thailand on Friday. Perhaps it was all a case of who was in charge.

With the rumoured sacking of head coach Nandar Iskandar yesterday, Indonesia were widely expected to come out looking different and indeed that was the case when the team line-ups were released.

Caretaker coach Danandjaya left out Ismed Sofyan, Sugiantoro, Suwandi Siswoyo and Putu Gede Santoso on the bench and called upon Uston Nawawi, Budiman, Nur'alim and Djet Donald Laala.

Playing a 3-5-2 formation, the white-shirted Indons seized the early initiative and went forward in search of the victory that would see them into the semi finals.

Gendut Christiawan, voted man of the match, looked a possessed man as he tore into the heart of the Myanmar defence in the early minutes supported by ace forward, Kurniawan.

But for all their possession, it was the Myanmar side that looked better as the match progressed.

After 7 minutes, Thet Naing Soe, put through by Zaw Htike's clever pass, broke into the Indonesian defence and looked set to score until he placed his shot high over. And a minute later it was skipper Than Toe Aung who troubled Indonesian reserve 'keeper Komang Putra with a blinder from 40 metres that just flew over.

Gendut then found space down the right and teed up Kurniawan for a simple tap in. But there was Ko Ko Aung, the Myanmar custodian quickly getting down to save the shot. Gendut then followed that up with another run that took him down the left before he set up Imran Nahumarury. Again Ko Ko Aung came to the rescue, saving Imran's volley.

Gendut had two more gilt-edged chances to put his team ahead in the 23rd and 25th minute but both times his attempts went narrowly wide.

Indonesia finally broke the deadlock in time added on at the end of the first half. Gendut put his name well-deservedly on the scoresheet after some sloppy defending allowed the striker to turn Ko Ko Aung before slotting home. The ball looked to have taken a deflection off defender Zaw Linn Tunn before rolling into goal but the effort was still credited to the hardworking Gendut.

The second period saw the Myanmar team come out in search of an equaliser and this resulted in several gaps in their defence. And Gendut who punished them again to make it 2-0 on 52 minutes scoring with a header after Bima Sakti's free-kick could only be pushed up by Ko Ko Aung.

A minute after, Myo Hlaing Win brought out a stupendous save from Komang Putra with a flying volley that looked a goal all the way until the keeper's intervention. Myanmar kept up the pressure and came forward but the Indonesian defenders held out.

The space left by the Myanmar defenders who were further forward and slow running back saw more goals for the Indonesians.

Uston Nawawi made it 3-0 after 70 minutes and Kurniawan then scored a double in the 72nd and 80th minute to complete Myanmar's misery.

But to their credit, Myanmar never gave up and continued searching and fighting and could have gained some consolation through Myo Hlaing Win but the striker saw his piledriver from 30 metres rock the crossbar and bounce out. Kurniawan almost scored the first hattrick of the competition in the 88th minute but for the post.

It was a commanding performance by the Indonesians and at the final whistle as the Myanmar players dropped to their knees, the Indonesians celebrated their progress into the last four.

Team manager Mohammad Zein said afterwards at the post-match conference that he was pleased with the victory and indicated that the first goal had been the most critical.

"After that first goal, Myanmar had to come out to find an equaliser. All they needed was a draw and they had to score. That left many holes at the back and we capitalised on it.

"It was a good team performance and we are now looking forward to playing Vietnam in the semi finals," he said.

David Booth meanwhile rued the loss and said that the inexperience of his players was the undoing.

"The boys panicked after conceding the goal. They knew that they had to score to get back into the game and this just let the Indonesians in. It does not matter if you lose by one goal or five goals. It has been a good experience and I am sure the boys will learn from it, " he said.

source: www.tigerbeer.com