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Myanmar party over as Ukraine hit them for six

By Greg Stutchbury WELLINGTON (Reuters) - Myanmar's under-20 World Cup 'party' came to a crashing halt on Tuesday when they were hammered 6-0 by Ukraine, with all six goals coming in the second half, prompting the Asian side's German coach to apologise to their fans. Myanmar, who qualified for the tournament for the first time by reaching the Asian under-19 championships semi-finals on home soil last year, had given the United States a massive fright in their opening game on Saturday before eventually losing 2-1. They managed to hold Ukraine scoreless in the first half in Whangarei before the Europeans scored six in the second, with Shakhtar Donetsk's Viktor Kovalenko grabbing a brace. The scoreline could have been even worse had Pavlo Polehenko not missed a penalty after defender Thiha Htet Aung was sent off for a hand ball on the line. "We must be realists, the party is over," Myanmar coach Gerd Zeise told a media conference. "I must apologise to the Myanmar fans, I am responsible for this disaster, but I can't turn a cyclist into a racing driver." Like many developing nations in Asia, world governing body FIFA has pumped money into the country and given more than $1.1 million through its Goal programme over the past five years to fund facilities and training programmes for age-group players. Myanmar's qualification for the tournament in New Zealand was seen as proof the money was working. Zeise, however, suggested the tournament, despite causing an outpouring of celebrations back home, had come too early for his side. "Obviously we only had the power for one match. The European teams play in another league and we cannot follow," he said. "We are too blind and we do not have the experience, that's absolutely clear. "It was a disaster and this tournament has come too early for us. We cannot follow these teams, no chance. "My team was too poor." Myanmar's final game is on Friday in Wellington against hosts New Zealand, who were beaten 4-0 by the United States in Auckland, and must beat Zeise's side to give themselves a hope of qualifying for the knockout phase. Austria took a huge step towards the round of 16 with a 2-1 victory over Panama, who finished with nine men, in a spiteful encounter in Wellington, where the Europeans also had two penalties saved by Jaime De Gracia. Ghana also shook off the rust that had characterised their fortuitous 1-1 draw against Austria on Saturday, which was sealed with a stoppage-time penalty, with an impressive 3-2 victory over Humberto Grondona's Argentina. Grondona's side, one of the pre-tournament favourites, scored two late goals to set up a tense final few minutes but have just one point from two games and face the Austrians on Friday. (Editing by Peter Rutherford/John O'Brien)