Malaysia trounce Philippines 4-0 in Asean opener

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BANGKOK, Jan 12 (Reuters) - Malaysia topped the Group A table after hammering the Philippines 4-0 in the opening match of the Asean soccer championships onn Friday.

Hosts Thailand scored an injury time equaliser to share the points with Myanmar.

Hairuddin Omar scored the first of his two goals for Malaysia eight minutes into the game, then Nizarudin Yusof doubled their tally eight minutes later.

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Malaysia went three up on 70 minutes after an own goal by Anton Del before Omar rounded the keeper 10 minutes later to slot home from five metres out.

Malaysian coach Norizan Bakar said: "They put up a very good performance tonight. But certainly we cannot relax because this is only the beginning of the campaign -- we have another two matches to go."

Si Thu Win stunned the Bangkok crowd when he put Myanmar in front against the run of play on 37 minutes.

But the hosts struck back and finally found their equaliser deep into injury time when Suchao Nutnum popped up inside the box to fire the ball into the top right corner.

"We had so many chances after they scored," Thai coach Charnwit Pholcheewin told a news conference. "We just had to keep pushing them."

Group B matches featuring Indonesia, Laos, Singapore and Vietnam get underway in Singapore on Saturday.