Phnom Penh: Svay Rieng FC will hold a slender lead when they kick off against Young Elephants FC in the second leg of the Shopee Cup Qualifying Round Play-offs at Cambodia’s National Olympic Stadium on Wednesday.
The two teams played out a thrilling match at Laos National Stadium in Vientiane last week when Gabriel Silva gave the visitors the lead with a superb low strike from outside the box in the 19th minute of the contest.
Takumu Nishihara equalised from the penalty spot for Young Elephants before Uzbek forward Shokhrukh Mahmudxojiyev put them in front with a delightful free-kick in the 38th minute.
Surprisingly, both teams played with 10 men after they had their goalkeepers sent off in similar fashion in two separate incidents before more drama unfolded in the closing stages.
Cristian Roque Dos Santos levelled the scores at 2-2 with a clinical first-time effort in the 90th minute and 21-year-old substitute Nhean Sosidan then came up with some individual magic, curling the ball into the net in the fifth minute of stoppage time in a frantic finish to win it for the Cambodian champions.
This was Sosidan’s first goal for Svay Rieng after he was recently signed following his 2023-24 exploits in the Cambodian Premier League for National Defense FC, for whom he became the joint-highest domestic goalscorer with 13 goals.
However, despite the defeat for Young Elephants, there are plenty of positives to take for new head coach Phoutpasong Sengdalavong who saw two of their new signings Nishihara and Mahmudxojiyev score in their debut appearances.
Meanwhile, last weekend the presentation ceremony for the upcoming season of the Cambodian Premier League took place with Svay Rieng set to begin their title defence against National Defense on August 11.
The Blue Sabers will hope that by then they are already a part of the inaugural edition of the Shopee Cup’s group stage while Young Elephants aim to plot their route to a second-leg comeback.
The winner of this tie will earn a coveted spot in Group A to join Thailand’s BG Pathum United, Terengganu FC from Malaysia, Indonesia’s PSM Makassar and Dong A Thanh Hoa FC from Vietnam.
Svay Rieng FC vs Young Elephants FC
Venue: Olympic Stadium Phnom Penh
Kick-off: July 24, 7:00 PM (Local Time)
Share now
