The Svay Rieng squad celebrate after defeating Shan United 6-2 on home soil. Svay Rieng FC
Preah Khan Reach Svay Rieng FC handed their Myanmar rivals Shan United a 6-2 drubbing in the first leg of the quarterfinals of the 2024-2025 AFC Challenge League at the Morodok Techo National Stadium on Thursday night.
Brazilian forward Cristian Dos Santos earned most valuable player after scoring a hat-trick in the match, theoretically defeating Shan on his own.
While fans praised the strong performance of the home side, coach Pep Munoz believed that his squad still has room for improvement, and must, if they want to make it to the final stage.
“We know the result is good for us, but if we look at the whole match, our playing style was not perfect. Regarding the rhythm of our play and tactics today, it wasn’t at its best because we need to retain possession more effectively,” he told a post-match media scrum.
He emphasised the importance of controlling the ball better, particularly when considering Shan’s defence-oriented strategy.
The AFC Challenge League match took place at the Morodok Techo National Stadium on Thursday, March 6. Svay Rieng FC
In the second half, he said, his team needed to increase ball movement, quick passes and fluid transitions.
The Spanish coach also pointed out that both of Shan’s goals were the result of mistakes made by Svay Rieng.
Munoz urged his team to improve and play even better if they want to compete strongly and advance to the final stage of the AFC league.
“The tournament is not over. We still have to travel to play the second leg on Shan United’s home turf, which won’t be easy because of environmental factors like the pitch and the home crowd. If we want to make it to the final, we need to step up our game even more,” he said.
MVP Dos Santos scored the first and second goals for Svay Rieng with two penalties in the 17th and 31st minutes. Shan’s Khun Kyaw Zin Hein then pulled a goal back in the 39th.
In the second half, Japanese player Ryo Fujii scored Svay Rieng’s third goal in the 54th minute.
Dos Santos followed him, scoring his third penalty in the 60th. Shan’s Zwe Khat Min all but sealed the result with an own goal in the 65th, with Svay Rieng’s Min Ratanak putting the last nail in the coffin in the 75th.
As Svay Rieng celebrate, Shan United’s Zwe Khat Min (number 2 jersey, in red) bows his head as he rues his 65th minute own goal. Svay Rieng FC
Shan were able to recover some pride with an 87th minute consolation goal by Efrain Rintaro Da Silva.
Dos Santos was overjoyed after his hat-trick. He thanked his teammates for their support and urged the whole team to continue performing well and secure a win in the return leg, set for March 13, in Myanmar.
“We are really happy to get the win, and I’m glad I scored three goals to help the team. We did some things well, but we need to work harder in the second leg because we need to win again,” he said.
Shan coach Ono Hiroki considered the heavy loss a lesson for his team, acknowledging the need for improvements and adjustments before the second leg.
He also noted that his side had issues with the pitch at the Morodok Techo National Stadium, making it difficult for his players to play and pass the ball effectively.
“The grass at this stadium is thicker than in Myanmar, which made passing the ball difficult. It was a challenging match for us. We tried to defend as best as we could, but still conceded six goals. This is a lesson for us,” he said.
