Coach Jose “Pep” Munoz expressed pride in the performance of his Preah Khan Reach Svay Rieng team despite their 2-1 loss to Thailand's BG Pathum United in last night’s ASEAN Club Championship qualifiers.

The match, held in Thanyaburi, Thailand, showcased Svay Rieng's improved style of play, which Munoz noted had not been seen by some fans before.

“We always aim to win every match, and while some may not have recognised our style before, this game highlighted how we can play,” he said.

Although result did not go the way they wanted, Munoz emphasised his pleasure at the way his players demonstrated their strong ability to control the game and create opportunities.

“In football, losses happen, but I am proud of how we executed our game plan. Our aim was to create chances, and I believe we did that,” he explained.

The scoring opened in the 31st minute when BG Pathum’s Raniel Santana de Vasconcelos put his side ahead.

Svay Rieng responded in the 61st minute with a goal from Brazilian striker Pablo Augusto Servo de Carvalho.

Unfortunately, just two minutes later, Teerasil Dangda restored BG Pathum’s lead, capitalising on a defensive error.

Svay Rieng continued to push for an equaliser – generating multiple chances – but ultimately fell short. 

Statistics showed they dominated possession at 54%, and had 20 shots at goal compared to BG Pathum’s 12, reflecting their aggressive style of play.

Thai football fans expressed dissatisfaction with BG Pathum’s performance despite the win, particularly after their earlier goalless draw against Indonesia’s PSM. 

Coach Makoto Teguramori acknowledged the need for improvement, announcing that his team must “return to the drawing board” to strengthen their game.

Dangda, who scored the winning goal, echoed these sentiments, recognising the difficulty of securing three points despite not performing at their best.

“We must acknowledge that our opponents played well, and it wasn't easy to earn this win. I’m grateful to my teammates for their support during tough moments,” he said.

While the result was disappointing for Svay Rieng, their display of skill and determination offered hope for future matches in the tournament.