Cambodia 3-4 Kyrgyzstan

Friday, 25 March 2011 23:38

Male: Kyrgyzstan edged Cambodia in a seven-goal thriller as the Central Asians ended their unsuccessful 2012 AFC Challenge Cup qualifying campaign with a 4-3 victory on Friday. The triumph sees Kyrgyzstan finish third in Group C behind hosts the Maldives and inaugural AFC Challenge Cup winners Tajikistan while Cambodia depart without a point following three consecutive loses. After heavy defeats to the Maldives (4-0) and Tajikistan (3-0) the Cambodians appeared on course for another torrid time as Aziz Sydykov gave Kyrgyzstan a fifth minute lead. Kouch Sokumpheak equalised in the 39th minute but parity didn’t last long as Rustem Usanov restored Kyrgyzstan’s lead in first-half stoppage time. For the second time in the match Sokumpheak drew Cambodia level, with the 24-year-old Phnom Penh striker beating Kyrgyz keeper Valerii Kashuba again four minutes after the interval. The score remained locked at 2-2 up until the 80th minute when Cholponbek Esenkul Uulu restored Kyrgyzstan’s lead before the 25-year-old forward struck again just five minutes later. Sok Rithy reduced the deficit a minute from the final whistle but there wasn’t enough time for the Cambodians to level for a fourth time and pick up their first point of the campaign.