Phnom Penh: Cambodia and Malaysia kicked off the ASEAN Mitsubishi Electric Cup™ 2024 with an thrilling 2-2 draw in Group A at National Olympic Stadium on Sunday.
Stuart Wilkin bagged the first goal of the 2024 edition when he headed home to put Malaysia in front nine minutes before the interval but Kader Coulibaly equalised for the hosts seven minutes after the restart.
Sa Ty then volleyed Cambodia into the lead on the hour only for Fergus Tierney to level proceedings with a little over 15 minutes to play as the match ended all square in what will go down as one of the Cambodians’ most famous results in the competition’s history.
The sides had met four times previously in the ASEAN Championship, most recently in the 2020 group stage, with Malaysia boasting a perfect four wins from four.
But roared on by a sizeable and vocal home support, it was Cambodia who had the first chance of note in the 19th minute when Sieng Chanthea cut inside Hiqimi Azim on the left before firing an off-target effort that ended up being miscued wide for a corner by Syafiq Ahmad as the Malaysian backline breathed a sigh of relief.
A minute later, Malaysia failed to clear a Cambodian cross from the left and the ball broke for Coulibaly inside the box, but Daniel Ting was quick to close him down and clear for a corner.
The hosts were on top but in the 28th minute Malaysia's Endrick received a ball from Khuzaimi Piee, turned and fired a low effort goalwards from 20 yards that was well parried to safety by goalkeeper Vireak Dara.
Malaysia then broke the deadlock in the 36th minute following a lovely move that saw Syafiq’s backheel pass find the onrushing Ting, whose inch-perfect cross from the left byline was met by Wilkin’s diving header from 12 yards as the Harimau Malaya netted the first goal of the 2024 ASEAN Mitsubishi Electric Cup.
Paulo Josue had another header well saved by Dara just a few minutes later as the visitors sought to double their advantage but had to settle for the 1-0 lead at half-time.
Cambodia began the second half strongly and levelled the score in the 52nd minute when Orn Chanpolin’s through ball was badly misjudged by Jimmy Raymond, allowing Kim Sokyuth to pounce on the loose ball before he cut inside and passed to Coulibaly to side-foot home.
The Koupreys continued to push forward and, after Chanthea’s effort from the edge of the area was deflected wide as the hour approached, they then added a second.
Yudai Ogawa’s deep corner from the left found its way to the unmarked Ty at the back post and he volleyed into the back of the net from six yards to have the Cambodian supporters in dreamland.
But as an end-to-end game ensued it was Malaysia who scored next when Endrick’s clever flick found Tierney who turned and drilled a low bouncing left-footed strike from 25 yards that evaded Dara and found the bottom left corner.
And it was Malaysia who looked the more likely to find the winner in the closing stages with Ezequiel Aguero being played through by Tierney with two minutes remaining only to be denied by a superb Nick Taylor tackle as he closed in on goal as Cambodia held on for the draw.
Cambodia next face an away date with Singapore on Wednesday while Malaysia will welcome Timor-Leste to Kuala Lumpur on the same day.
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