PHNOM PENH: Malaysia had to settle for a 2-2 draw against Cambodia in their first match of the 2024 ASEAN Cup at the National Olympic Stadium, here on Sunday.
What seemed to be a lopsided match after Malaysia took the lead in the 35th minute through Sabah FC player Stuart John Wilkins heated up in the second half as both teams did their best to secure victory and the full three points.
Malaysia would have gone up in the dying minutes of the first half but poor finishing at the goal mouth failed to yield any positive results for them.
Fresh from halftime, Cambodia clawed their way back when Coulibaly Abdel Kader slotted the equaliser in the 52nd minute, which then triggered a change in the tempo of the game.
Buoyed by the support from the home crowd, Cambodian ramped up the game with a second goal when Ty Sa scored in the 60th minute but the Malaysians were not deterred, and Fergus Tierney struck back with the team’s second goal in the 74th minute after sloppy goal keeping by Cambodian keeper Dara Vireak, leaving both teams at 2-2.
Malaysia is in Group A along with defending champions Thailand, Singapore and Timor Leste.
Group B comprises Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines and Vietnam.
—BERNAMA
