Cambodia Squanders Two Leads Against Malaysia

The Cambodian national football team were left wondering how they walked off the turf at Rangoon’s Thuwanna Stadium on Sunday empty-handed after twice throwing away leads in a 3-2 loss to Malaysia in the 2016 AFF Suzuki Cup Group B opener.

Cambodia’s forward Chan Vathanaka was the star of the show once again, scoring twice and constantly threatening the Malaysian back four.

Chan Vathanaka takes the ball around the Malaysian goalkeeper to open the scoring in Cambodia’s 3-2 loss to Malaysia in a 2016 AFF Suzuki Cup Group B match in Rangoon on Sunday. (AFF Suzuki Cup)
Chan Vathanaka takes the ball around the Malaysian goalkeeper to open the scoring in Cambodia’s 3-2 loss to Malaysia in a 2016 AFF Suzuki Cup Group B match in Rangoon on Sunday. (AFF Suzuki Cup)

With just seven minutes gone, Vathanaka sprinted clear of the Malaysian defense, who all stopped in their tracks to appeal for an offside that wasn’t given.

Vathanaka clumsily managed to take the ball around the Malaysian keeper to poke it into an open net.

Malaysia’s Syazwan Zainon equalized with a clinical turn-and-shot in the 37th minute to make it honors even at half-time.

There was little doubt about Vathanaka’s second as he ran onto a lobbed pass, cut inside on his left boot with two defenders blocking his path before emphatically slotting the ball into the net.

Despite looking as if a shock victory was in the cards, Amri Yahyah spoiled the Cambodian party.

The Malaysian captain scored twice in quick succession, first by side footing into an open net after some sloppy Cambodian defending allowed him to glide into the box with ease.

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