There was no Keisuke Honda magic for Cambodia when they failed to build on their bright start to go down 3-1 to Malaysia in a friendly last night at the National Olympic Stadium.
Honda was recently roped in by the Football Federation of Cambodia (FFC) as their new head coach with the former Japanese international expected to inspire the new generation of players to new heights.
And in front of a sell-out crowd in Phnom Penh, the home team played with plenty of guts as they played their typical fast attacking football to trouble the experimental Malaysian side under Tan Cheng Hoe.
In the 18th minute, a freekick from Bin Chantha Cheary was blasted in by Soeuy Visal as he made good on a play back by Keo Sokpheng.
Malaysian veteran goalkeeper Khairul Fahmi Che Mat then made a string of saves to deny Cambodia before the visitors drew level at the hour mark off a header from Mohd Syawal Nordin.
Andik Mohd Ishak then gave Malaysia the lead on 74 minute as he made good on the cross from Shahrel Fikri Mohd Fauzi.
Shahrel Fikri then rounded off the win with a grounder right at the end.
The win was Malaysia’s second in three matches after beating Fiji 1-0 and the losing to Chinese Taipei 2-0 a few days earlier.
For Cambodia, this is their first friendly as part of their preparation for the AFF Suzuki Cup 2018.
