Burma’s national football team secured a semi-final place in the  Tiger Cup Sunday with a 1-0 win over the host nation, Malaysia.

Burma’s captain, Soe Myat Min, scored the winning goal about half way through the first half before a crowd of around 10,000 in Kuala Lumpur’s National Stadium.

Burma’s captain, Soe Myat Min

A Burmese sports reporter told The Irrawaddy that more than half the crowd were Burmese fans, and their loud support for their home team might have been a decisive factor in the victory.

Burma now stands at the top of its qualifying group with seven points after beating the Philippines 1-0 in the opening match of the tournament, and drawing 1-1 with the current champions, Thailand. It still has to play East Timor, but regardless of the result of that match its place in the semi-finals is secure.

The semi-finals begin on December 29, and the tournament ends next January 15.