U-16, Cambodia Wins Again as Thais Await

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Host nation Cambodia will go into Sunday’s matchup with Thailand on the back of a solid – if labored – showing in their second AFF U-16 Smart Youth Championship group B match against minnows Brunei on Wednesday evening. The young Angkor Warriors began their tournament bid on Monday, securing a confidence-boosting 3-1 win over an ineffective Laotian team. Tournament jitters from the hosts were absent much to the fans relief as Sean Sopheaktra took the game by the scruff of the neck and led his side to a 2-0 victory at Phnom Penh’s Olympic Stadium. Sopheaktra was in the right place at the right time to head home the cross of opening game hero Sieng Chanthea in the 38th minute before he struck a 78th minute volley to make the three points safe for coach Kazunori Inoue’s boys.

“It is a different pace of game than our opening match,” noted coach Kazunori after the game. “It was still a competitive match but we have to be more tactical thinking about our remaining games.” Elsewhere in the group, Thailand – the defending champions – made an assertive start to their campaign as they tore through Timor Leste 3-0. The Thais went ahead early on as Peerapat Kaminthong converted the opener just two minutes into the game.

Thailand ramped up the pressure and notched a second goal just seven minutes later, as Korawich Tasa beat opposition keeper Natalino Soares on the left. An own goal by Timor defender Nelson Reis compounded the Timor misery before the first half was over, with Thai head coach Chaiyong Khumpian making a slew of substitutions to preserve the lead and give his youngsters a rest. “The first match is always difficult but I am very satisfied,” said Chaiyong. “We still have three more matches to play for so it is important that we rotate the squad.

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