Group I: Hougang United (SGP) 4-3 Phnom Penh Crown FC (CAM)
Ho Chi Minh City: Singapore’s Hougang United overturned a two-goal deficit to defeat Phnom Penh Crown of Cambodia 4-3 in their AFC Cup™ 2022 Group I opener on Friday.
25/06/2022 14:13:26
The Cambodian side opened the scoring at the quarter-hour mark when Japanese midfielder Yudai Ogawa lined up a free-kick and looked to send it through the defensive wall, but it was deflected behind for a corner that Yeu Muslim curled towards the far post.
The ball bounced off the woodwork and fell for club captain Choun Chanchav to tap it home from point blank range.
The lead was doubled in the 19th minute following another corner for Phnom Penh Crown. This time it was an in-swinger from the right side that was headed home by Brak Thiva.
The dramatic start to the game continued with the Singaporeans pulling one back within two minutes through Pedro Bortoluzo. The Brazilian applied the finishing touch after he was selflessly set-up by Shawal Anuar who showed some impressive footwork to evade a defender, round the goalkeeper and square for his teammate to tap into the empty net.
By the time the half-hour mark rolled around, Hougang United had equalised and they did so in style. Japanese right-back Kaishu Yamazaki curled an impeccable cross towards the far post where it was met by Amy Recha’s diving header which beat the Cambodian goalkeeper and nestled into the back of the net.
Eight minutes before the break, the tables were turned after a quickly taken set-piece saw Recha cross into the box from the left and with the Cambodian defenders retreating hastily, Choum Pisa’s attempt to clear the cross saw him send the ball into his own net.
Brazilian duo Bortoluzo and Andre Moritz combined at the hour mark to further extend Hougang United’s lead, with the former laying it off for Moritz who curled a left-footed strike from the edge of the area, beating the Cambodian goalkeeper to make it 4-2.
Three minutes into added time, Pisa made amends for his earlier mistake, rising highest to power in a header following a floated cross from a set-piece delivered by Ukrainian Valeriy Gryshyn. Unfortunately for the Cambodian defender, his goal was too little too late as the Singaporeans emerged winners in the seven-goal thriller.
Phnom Penh Crown will look to bounce back on Monday when they face group hosts Viettel while Hougang United will chase a second win on the trot later on the same day as they take on Young Elephants.
Source: AFC
