Forward Sor Rotana competes for the ball with East-Timor players during Tuesday night's match. FFC
The Cambodian national football team secured a hard-fought victory over Timor-Leste in the ASEAN Mitsubishi Electric Cup 2024, winning 2-1 last night, at the National Olympic Stadium.
Despite the narrow margin of victory, Japanese coach Koji Gyotoku deemed the result a positive one, as it kept Cambodia’s hopes alive for advancing to the next round of the tournament. However, the team faces an uphill challenge, with key players potentially struggling due to fatigue ahead of their next match, against a strong Thailand side.
Cambodian supporters went into the December 17 match expecting a more decisive victory, hoping for a margin of at least three goals to improve their chances of advancing. However, the game took an unexpected turn when the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) disallowed a goal by Nieto Rondon in the 2nd minute.
Timor-Leste’s Joao Pedro Da Silva Freitas then put his team ahead with a goal in the 22nd minute, showcasing a solid defensive and counter-attacking approach by the visitors, a stark contrast to their 10-0 defeat to Thailand earlier in the tournament on December 8.
Despite the early setback, Cambodia controlled possession and kept up the pressure.
In the 41st minute, a corner from Yudai Ogawa allowed young striker Sor Rotana to leap and head the ball into the net to equalise. In the 79th minute, a quick exchange between Rotana and Hav Soknet resulted in Soknet scoring Cambodia’s second goal.
Both of the goals underwent VAR checks, with concerns raised about potential handball or offside positions. However, after review, VAR confirmed both goals, giving the Kouprey the narrow 2-1 victory.
Rotana, who was named Man of the Match, spoke after the game, acknowledging the challenges of playing against Timor-Leste.
Rafael Andres Nieto Rondon fights his way past three Timor-Leste defenders. FFC
“It was really difficult playing against Timor-Leste because they played well defensively and counter-attacked quickly. After the break, we were able to adjust and perform better,” he said.
In other group-stage action, Thailand came from behind to defeat Singapore 4-2, securing all nine points from three matches and clinching their spot in the semi-finals. Singapore, with six points, now faces a tight contest for the remaining qualification spot from Group A, with Cambodia and Malaysia both on four points. Cambodia will face Thailand in their final group match, while Malaysia plays Singapore, both on December 20.
Given the current standings, Cambodia’s path to the next stage appears challenging. They must beat Thailand, while hoping Malaysia defeats Singapore in order to advance. If Singapore wins or draws with Malaysia, the Lions will secure their place in the knockout stages alongside Thailand.
Coach Koji expressed satisfaction with the team’s performance, despite not scoring as many goals as the supporters had hoped.
“This was a tough match, and winning it is a good result for us because Timor-Leste is a team with fast, skilled players. We had some problems in the first half, but our players understood what I had said, made adjustments, and kept fighting until the end,” he said.
Looking ahead, Koji voiced concerns about the team’s energy levels for the crucial match against Thailand.
“What worries me for the next match is the loss of stamina because I haven’t rotated players much, keeping the same players on the field. If their energy isn’t enough, we may need to make substitutions,” he explained.
With everything still to play for, Cambodia’s final group match against Thailand promises to be a make-or-break encounter as they continue to chase a spot in the next round of the ASEAN Mitsubishi Electric Cup.
