Lions edge Warriors in Suzuki Cup warm-up
NATIONAL coach Lee Tae Hoon remained unfazed after Sunday evening’s 1-0 loss to Singapore at the Bishan Stadium, insisting the international friendly experience was all part of Cambodia’s preparations for their AFF Suzuki Cup campaign, which starts this weekend.
Cambodia took t he pitch keen on repeating a 2-1 home win in a friendly in July t hat broke a nearly four-decades-old hoodoo against the Lions.
But despite t he best efforts of Chan Vat ha na ka during a dominant f irst half and some sturdy defending in the second, Cambodia conceded in the 70th minute.
Substitute Yasir Yanapi reacted quickest to a loose ball and fired home to save the Lions from what would have been their seventh winless game, giving coach V Sunderam Moorthy reason to be rather more cheerful than his Cambodian counterpart.
While Lee Tae Hoon said he was disappointed with the outcome but not disheartened, the Lions’ coach said: “Friendlies are friendlies – the most important matches are the Cup games next week.”
It was the final warm-up game for Singapore and Cambodia as they head in different directions in the next few days in pursuit of a common goal.
Singapore begin their Group A campaign against hosts Philippines on Saturday, while the Angkor Warriors play their Group B opener against Malaysia in the former Myanmar capital of Yangon on Sunday.