Pahang FA coach Zainal Abidin Hassan has praised the fighting spirit of his players after an 89th minute goal secured their first AFC Cup victory in almost 10 years, despite playing more than 30 minutes with a man down away from home.
The Malaysian Cup champions defeated Yadanarbon 3-2 in Myanmar in their opening 2015 AFC Cup Group G game, thanks to substitute Gopinathan Ramachandra's last minute strike at Mandalar Thiri Stadium.
A brace from Pahang's Nigerian striker Dickson Nwakaeme in the sixth and 12th minutes had put the visitors into an early lead. But Yadanarbon goals either side of half time through a Damion Stewart own goal in the 35th minute and a Djedje Djawa penalty brought the Myanmar side level at 2-2.
Pahang were then reduced to 10 men in the 55th minute after captain Mohd Razman Roslan was shown a red card.
"After the equaliser, we had to play one man down and credit must go to my players, they showed their fighting spirit and found a way to the winning goal," Zainal told the-afc.com
"It was a tough game but our players settled down very quickly, which was exactly as I had hoped for. The [early] goals got us off to a great start but I think it also led to a little too much relaxation in their mindset, letting Yadanarbon back into the game."
That spot kick was converted but the Myanmar side missed a second penalty in the 67th minute. Zin Min Tun, with his back to goal, drew the foul from Mohd Saiful Nizam Bin Miswan. But Djawa sent his effort high above the cross bar to keep the score at 2-2 before Pahang got the winner at the death.
"This match was a close call and early in the game we failed to deal with Conti and Nwakaeme and they proved to be dangerous players," said Yadanarbon coach Kyi Naing.
Yadanarbon lost in the AFC Champions League preliminary round play-offs to Warriors FC of Singapore earlier this month.
In the other Group G game, Hong Kong's South China scored an impressive 6-1 victory over Global FC in the Philippines.