Phnom Penh Crown FC defeated Tainan City FC 3-2 in a thrilling contest to advance to the quarter-finals of the AFC Challenge League.
The win took Phnom Penh to seven points, guaranteeing them a top two finish in Group E.
Tainan went into the game knowing they had to win and the Chinese Taipei side went for it from the opening whistle, Matheus Porto making Chiem Samnang push away a low shot in the seventh minute before Mohamed Sakkouh fired a volley wide.
A moment of hesitation from Raul Feher in the 13th minute saw his pass intercepted by Sakkouh before relaying the ball to Facunda Aranda who left Long Phearath for dead before firing into the bottom corner to give Tainan the lead.
Phnom Penh recovered to hit back in the 27th minute when Kim Seo-in’s cross from the left was nodded home by Moses Dyer for his fourth goal of the campaign.
Inclement weather made conditions at Sport Centre Kepala Dua Tangerang Stadium difficult for both teams to play their usual game with the score unchanged at the break.
Phnom Penh made a fast start to life in the second half with Dyer adding to his tally seconds in, steering home Maksym Priadun’s cutback from close range.
Things got worse for Tainan in the 57th minute when goalkeeper Wang Po-han made a mess of an easy catch from Kim’s cross with the greasy ball dropping out of his grasp for the onrushing Yem Devit to tap in.
Tainan, however, were not going to give up without a fight, pulling a goal back nine minutes later when Benchy headed home Porto’s chip but that was the extent of their comeback as Phnom Penh held on for the win.
