Phnom Penh: Indonesia’s PSM Makassar climbed to the top of Group A of the ASEAN Club Championship Shopee Cup™ after edging Cambodian champions PKR Svay Rieng FC 1-0 at National Olympic Stadium on Wednesday.
Nermin Haljeta’s goal only 38 seconds into the game proved to be the difference as the visitors survived a few nervy moments against a valiant Svay Rieng to hold on for the win and move two points clear at the top of their group.
After a 3-2 win against Malaysia’s Terengganu FC and a narrow 2-1 defeat to Thailand’s BG Pathum United in their opening games, Svay Rieng came into the fixture hoping to bounce back with a win in their first Shopee Cup fixture at home.
But PSM and Haljeta had other plans as the Slovenian striker ran onto a ball over the top of the Svay Rieng defence from Victor Dethan and calmly lifted the ball over the advancing goalkeeper Vireak Dara to open the scoring with only 38 seconds played.
Though stunned by the early opener, the hosts did not let themselves unravel and put on a good defensive stint to avoid further damage and kept the Indonesians at bay in the first half.
In fact, a Victor shot from the edge of the box which brushed the side netting in the 11th minute and a half-chance for Haljeta in the 40th minute were the only occasions Bernardo Tavares' PSM threatened for the remainder of the first period.
Svay Rieng, meanwhile, thought they had levelled the score just before the break as Nick Taylor was played through on goal by Bounphachan Bounkong and found the back of the net, but the assistant referee’s raised flag for a tight offside denied them the equaliser.
PSM were close to doubling their advantage seven minutes after the restart as Svay Rieng captain Soeuy Visal’s blocked clearance fell for an unmarked Haljeta inside the box, but the striker failed to add to his tally as he fired inches wide with only the keeper to beat.
Frustration grew on 27-year-old Haljeta after he hit the target after a quick PSM break in the 60th minute, but the goal, which was awarded by the on-field referee, was chalked off after a VAR review for a foul by Akbar Tanjung on Cristian which launched the counter.
Svay Rieng attacker Gabriel Silva dispossessed Mufli Hidayat in midfield and made his way into the box before testing PSM custodian Reza Arya in the 72nd minute as Pep Munoz’s side continued to probe for a way back into the contest.
Their Japanese centre-back Takashi Odawara headed Bounphachan’s corner onto the roof of the PSM goal in the 85th minute and seconds later, they had their best chance to salvage a draw as PSM’s effort to play out from the back almost ended in a disaster.
Bounphachan stole the ball from defender Aloisio Neto near the byline and Narong Kakada laid it off for Min Ratanak with the goal gaping, but PSM skipper Yuran Fernandes ensured the three points for his side with a crucial block.
Group A leaders PSM will next be in action at Malaysia’s Terengganu FC on 22 January while Svay Rieng, who sit second-from-bottom with three points, take on Vietnam’s Đông Á Thanh Hóa FC on the same day in the penultimate set of group stage games.
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