Cambodia Hosts Giants of Japan For Qualifier

Members of the Japan national team training at the National Olympic Stadium in Phnom Penh ahead of their Tuesday date with Cambodia.KT / Yeun Punlue

Members of the Japan national team training at the National Olympic Stadium in Phnom Penh ahead of their Tuesday date with Cambodia.KT / Yeun Punlue

The Cambodian national football team will welcome Japan to the National Olympic Stadium on Tuesday evening in what is perhaps Cambodia’s most high-profile fixture in recent years.

The two sides will face off in the 2018 Russia World Cup qualification group stage match, in what is Cambodia’s penultimate game ahead of their final qualifier against Syria next March. Japan, having played a game less, has two remaining fixtures against Syria and Afghanistan which will also be played next March.

The Japanese team blasted three goals past Singapore in their last qualifying game, a result which helped them leapfrog the Syrians, who moved into the second spot. Coach Halilhodzic, speaking after the win, was impressed with his squad’s performance yet felt the Samurai Blue should have hit more than three goals.

“I’m very happy for the victory, we played with ambition and aggressiveness, unfortunately we couldn’t score more goals,” he said. “We had to score three more goals … we have to continue to try and search for progress, individually and collectively,” he added.

Cambodia’s most recent fixture saw the youthful side fall to a 3-0 defeat to Afghanistan in Tehran, Iran last Thursday to continue their six-game losing streak in the qualifiers. The Angkor Warriors have found the group stages a daunting prospect.

Despite the attacking verve of highly-rated youngsters Prak Mony Udom, Chan Vathanaka and Keo Sokpheng, the Cambodians have registered only a single goal and conceded a hefty 19 in return.

In their last meeting in Saitama in September, Japan ran out 3-0 winners courtesy of strikes from Shinji Kagawa, Maya Yoshida and Keisuke Honda. It perhaps would have been many more if it were not for the heroics between the sticks from Cambodian keeper Sou Yaty.

The Cambodian national side will be at Aeon Mall’s daylight plaza between 3-4 pm Monday afternoon for a meet and greet with fans. Tuesday’s game will kick off at 7:14 pm and will be broadcast live for fans who are unable to attend. Category 1 seating tickets are sold out.



Japanese midfielder Keisuke Honda emerging ahead of training session at the National Olympic Stadium in Phnom Penh. KT / Yeun Punlue

