Myanmar 3-1 Laos - Match Report: 2015

World Cup Qualifier

Myanmar 3-1 Laos

Supachalasai Stadium, Bangkok

13th October, 2015

A few weeks ago, I received an e mail from current Laos national team coach, and friend of this site, Steve Darby. "If you're around on October 13th, we're playing a World Cup qualifier against Myanmar in Bangkok," it started. "Try and come along, we need all the support we can get! I'll sort you out with a couple of tickets," it continued.

I replied, saying I'd do my best to be there but it was always a challenge getting from work to downton Bangkok for midweek matches. Thankfully, my mate (Mystic) Brian was also keen to come along and offered me a lift. In the end, we drove to Suvhanabumhi and caught the skytrain to the ground, without any problems.

We arrived at Supachalasai about an hour before kick off and made our way to the VIP entrance. The last contact I'd had with Steve - via e mail earlier in the day - hadn't been too promising, as he was having trouble getting his hands on the tickets. Undeterred, we had already come up with a Plan B; buy tickets and sit with the travelling army (numbering about 12) of Laos fans.

And, as we tried in vain explaining to the security guards who we were and what we wanted, it looked increasingly like Plan B would be put into operation. Thankfully, help was at hand, in the shape of Steve's wife and daughter. They'd already managed to successfully negotiate the "ring of steel" around the VIP area and now came to our assistance.

Once inside, we made our way through - what can only be described as - the Hallowed Halls, to our seats (which can only be described as basic) in the VIP box. Once ensconced, we went in search of refreshment. We found it in the shape of a buffet (a buffet!) and set about tucking in, whilst commenting on how different this was to our usual pre match routine and how the other "lads" would be jealous.

Once our appetites were sated, we returned to our box and settled down to watch the game. The match itself was an entertaining affair, with both teams giving a hundred (and ten) per cent. But, sadly for Laos, they were definitely second best on the night and found themselves on the receiving end of a 3-1 score line.

Unfortunately, we weren't able to stay for the post match press conference so we waved goodbye to Steve from our lofty position in the stand and thanked his family for their hospitality.

We both genuinely enjoyed the experience - which was about as far removed from a Saturday afternoon on the terraces of Boundary Park as it's possible to get - and made our way home - along with a couple of thousand celebrating Burmese -  like two excited schoolboys, still clutching our laminated VVIP passes.