Kuala Lumpur: Myanmar captain Kyaw Zin Htet insists the pressure is on Malaysia in Group A of the AFF Suzuki Cup on Saturday as the two sides get set to clash in a winner-takes-all encounter at Bukit Jalil National Stadium.

The Asian Lions’ goalkeeper put in an outstanding display in the goalless draw with Vietnam on Tuesday to mean Myanmar go into their final Group A game above the Vietnamese on goal difference and a point ahead of Malaysia.

A draw will guarantee progression to a second successive semi-final but defeat in the Malaysian capital would likely spell the end of the road for Myanmar as the competition moves towards the business end of proceedings.  

“The match will be very hard for both teams but Malaysia have to try and win and they will be under pressure in front of their home supporters,” said Kyaw Zin Htet.

“But we will try to get a good result to reach the semi-finals and make the people of Myanmar happy. We know if we get a point we go to the next stage but we will not be playing for the draw, we will play for the three points.

“Our aim is to win the game, and that’s what we’ll be trying to do.”

Myanmar have been in fine form in the tournament so far, twice coming from behind to claim big wins over Cambodia and Laos before the stalemate with Vietnam underlined their status as one of the region’s most improved sides.

Their rise began two years ago when, in a similar scenario, they went into their final group game against Malaysia in Yangon needing a draw to progress, before David Htan scored late on to secure a 1-0 win and their passage.

Elimination to Thailand followed but Myanmar have returned arguably even stronger this time round and in keeping one of the tournament favourites in Vietnam at bay, they have given themselves a real chances of another place in the last four.

“It was not just my performance, all of my teammates played a big part in that result,” added Kyaw Zin Htet.

“The strikers, midfielders and defenders all worked hard to prevent Vietnam scoring, so it was not about my saves, it was about the whole team.

“We have only been in the semi-finals twice in the tournament’s history, so this year we want to improve our record. At the very least we want to get to the knockout stage.”