Mohammad Afiq Bin Yunos (left) and Madhu M Mohana (right) of Singapore attempt to shield the ball from Laos’s Khampheng Sayyavutthi Thursday. AFP

A later kickoff allows Singapore and hosts Laos and to run through the motions of a draw and guarantee a place each in the semifinals

Vientiane

LAOS and Singapore played out a shameful, goalless draw in front of 20,000 disinterested spectators Thursday at the National Stadium in Vientiane. With both teams level on four points with Myanmar in Group B of the Southeast Asian Games men’s football competition, they knew that a point apiece would see them both progress to the semifinals. And that’s exactly what they settled for.

Laos provided brief glimpses of attacking intent, but for the most part were happy for Singapore to pass the ball along their back line for the entire game. This was international tournament football at its lowest ebb.

Earlier in the day, Myanmar comfortably disposed of Indonesia 3-1 in their final Group B game. The victory put them level on points with Laos and Singapore before the two met in their later kickoff.

Tun Win opened the scoring from the penalty spot with just two minutes on the clock. Pai Soe netted a fine individual effort on 53 minutes, before Indonesia’s Steve Bonsapia reduced the deficit in the 75th minute. Moe Win sealed the result with an 82nd minute tap-in to give Myanmar their first win of the competition.

Tony Sucipto (right) of Indonesia is challenged by Aye San of Myanmar during their Group B SEA Games football match in Vientiane Thursday.AFP

Indonesia's goalkeeper Frenky Irawan (top, black) fails to save a header by Myanmar’s Moe Win (cente, red) during their match Thursday. AFP