Sri Lanka ends 70-year drought with historic draw against Myanmar

Sri Lanka made history once again on Sunday, when they held Myanmar to a 0-0 draw in the second leg of their FIFA International Friendly at the Thuwunna Stadium in Yangon.

This scoreless draw marks Sri Lanka’s first result against Myanmar since their last victory back in 1954, a time when they had briefly dominated their football encounters.

Though a win eluded them, this match was a significant milestone for Sri Lankan football, showing clear improvement after their 2-0 loss to Myanmar a few days earlier on Thursday.

The game started with high intensity, with both teams eager to control possession. Sri Lanka came close to scoring several times, showing remarkable improvement in their attacking play compared to the first leg.

One of the standout moments came in the 12th minute when Oliver Kelaart’s shot, headed by Jude Supan, narrowly missed the goal, brushing past the right post. A few minutes later, Sri Lanka launched another attack, only to be denied by Myanmar’s goalkeeper, who was quick to react and prevent the ball from crossing the line.

In the 28th minute, Sri Lanka once again came close when Kelaart’s left-footed strike hit the left bar, just missing the goal. Four minutes later, Kelaart had another opportunity, but his right-footed shot sailed over the crossbar. The Lankan forwards were relentless, consistently pressing Myanmar’s defence, but luck wasn’t on their side.

Myanmar, though dominant in recent years, found themselves on the defensive for much of the first half. Sri Lanka’s high-pressure game frustrated Myanmar’s attempts to create scoring opportunities. By halftime, the score remained 0-0, with Myanmar’s Lwin Moe Aung receiving a Red Card for a foul on a Sri Lankan player in the 47th minute.

The second half saw more of the same, with Sri Lanka creating chances but unable to finish. In the 52nd minute, Kelaart sent another shot over the crossbar, missing yet another opportunity to break the deadlock. The game became tense in the 66th minute when an altercation between players on both sides momentarily halted play, with Sri Lankan coach Abdullah Al Muraiti stepping in to calm things down.

As the game progressed, Sri Lanka made key substitutions, bringing in fresh legs. Waseem Razik replaced Sam Durrant in the 79th minute, and Wade Dekker came on for Adhavan Rajamohan shortly after. Despite these changes, Sri Lanka continued to miss crucial opportunities. In the 77th minute, another shot from a Sri Lankan attacker flew over the crossbar.

In the 86th minute, Mohamed Akib replaced Kelaart, as Sri Lanka made their final push for a goal. The match reached a dramatic conclusion when Myanmar was awarded a penalty in the 91st minute after Sri Lanka’s Leon Perera was Red-carded for a foul. However, Myanmar failed to capitalize on the penalty, missing what could have been the winning goal. The final whistle blew, and the match ended in a hard-fought 0-0 draw.

For Sri Lanka, this result was more than just a draw. It was a symbol of progress, resilience, and hope. After 70 years of failing to register a positive result against Myanmar, they finally secured a point. Although the Lankan team couldn’t convert their chances into goals, their performance showed marked improvement from the first leg.

Coach Abdullah Al Muraiti will surely take many positives from this encounter, as the team looks to build on this momentum for future international competitions. The draw not only broke a long-standing drought against Myanmar but also served as a proof to the hard work and commitment of the Sri Lankan players, who are determined to bring pride back to Sri Lankan football.

While Sri Lanka’s last victory against Myanmar remains in the distant past—back in 1953 and 1954—the 0-0 draw in Yangon is a step toward rekindling their competitive spirit on the international field.