Vientiane: Nhean Sosidan came off the bench to score a stunning winner in the 94th minute as Cambodian champions Svay Rieng FC edged Young Elephants FC of Laos 3-2 in the first leg of the Shopee Cup Qualifying Round Play-off at Laos National Stadium on Wednesday.
It was the Cambodian champions who drew first blood in Vientiane through a stunning strike from Gabriel Silva in the 19th minute, but Takumu Nishihara slotted home a penalty kick in the 33rd minute to draw the hosts level.
Svay Rieng were down to 10 men when their goalkeeper Vireak Dara was shown a red card before Shokhrukh Mahmudxojiyev pulled Young Elephants ahead from the resulting free-kick. Vireak’s fellow custodian Solasak Thilavong was also sent off in the second period before new signing Cristian Roque Dos Santos and Sosidan struck late on to hand the Cambodian side the advantage.
Svay Rieng began the first leg strongly, dominating possession and their Brazilian winger Silva creating problems for the home defence down the left-hand side. But Young Elephants also proved they can be a threat as Mahmudxojiyev got behind the opposition defence, though failing to hurt the Cambodian side.
Xangnoy’s 20-year-old goalkeeper Solasak was called into action twice in quick succession in the 17th minute as he tipped a deflected cross from Sokyuth Kim over his goal before producing a brilliant save to deny Saret Krya’s powerful strike from inside the box after a corner kick.
However, there was nothing Solasak could do from the next corner when Svay Rieng captain Takashi Odawara delicately laid a loose ball back towards the edge of the box where Silva met it with a first-time finish and opened the Cambodian Premier League side’s scoring in the 19th minute.
Young Elephants were centimetres away from drawing level when Nick Taylor’s foul on 19-year-old Phonsak Seesavath earned them a free-kick at the edge of the box just past the half-hour mark and Mahmudxojiyev’s strike rattled the woodwork.
But they did not have to wait too long to restore parity as they were awarded a penalty in the 33rd minute that was converted by Nishihara past Svay Rieng custodian Vireak to make it 1-1.
A pivotal moment in the game came just seconds later when Vireak was sent off after rushing off his line to foul Mahmudxojiyev and also handle the ball outside his area. And it went from bad to worse for Jose Munoz’s side as the hosts managed to go ahead from the resulting set piece.