UAE 2019 Qualifiers PO 1st Leg: Chinese Taipei 2-2 Cambodia

With a place in the third round of qualifiers for the continental competition in the United Arab Emirates at stake, Huang Wei-Min fired Chinese Taipei in front early in the first leg only for Keo Sokpheng to pull Cambodia level inside the first 10 minutes.

The hosts retook the lead at the midway stage of the first half through Chen Po-Liang but Chinese Taipei were again pegged back after Chhin Chhoeun’s goal on 30 minutes, before Cambodia’s Chan Vathanaka saw his penalty saved early in the second half.

Cambodia captain Bin Chanthacheary and Chinese Taipei’s Chen Hao-Wei were then both dismissed for separate incidents, before Lin Chang-Lun missed a great chance to win the tie for the hosts in the closing stages.

“We got a very good result today with Chinese Taipei playing at home. It was not our best game because our players haven’t recovered (from the Timor-Leste game on Sunday) and it was also so humid,” said Cambodia coach Lee Tae-hoon.

“We got two important goals in the first half. I have to prepare them to play more aggressively in the home game. The away goals are very, very important and I will focus on our two away goals in the home game.

“I’m not satisfied, but we played the friendly against Timor-Leste so it was difficult for us. The players’ movement was not 100%.

“We weren’t balanced in the first half, but after the red card we became more balanced. We conceded many scoring chances, but we also missed many scoring chances. We now have to try and recover quickly.”

The hosts got off to the perfect start when a deflected free-kick from defender from 25 yards on six minutes flew past Cambodia goalkeeper Sou Yaty.

But Chinese Taipei’s lead lasted just two minutes as Sokpheng slid in at the back post to tap home after Vathanaka got to the ball before outrushing goalkeeper Pan Wen-Chieh.

In an open game, the unmarked Chen Po-Liang should have restored Chinese Taipei’s lead after being picked out by Wen Chih-Hao but headed off target from close range, before Wu Chun-Ching burst into the penalty area and fired wide on 13 minutes.

The home side would not be denied, though, and were back in front on 22 minutes when Chen Po-Liang picked up the ball with his back to goal, turned and drilled in an unstoppable effort from just outside the area.

But Cambodia again drew level on the half-hour mark as Chhoeun was presented with the easy task of finishing from close range after Chinese Taipei goalkeeper Pan was only able to parry Sokpheng’s initial attempt from 15 yards.

And Cambodia had golden opportunity to go in front for the first time in the 53rd minute but Pan denied Vathanaka from the penalty spot after substitute Weng Wei-Pin had upended Sokpheng as he darted into the area.

And the visitors’ poor second half continued when they were reduced to 10 men on 57 minutes as Chanthacheary received his second yellow card, only for Chen Hao-Wei to also be given his marching orders for his second bookable offence with 15 minutes remaining.

But Chinese Taipei could have won it with four minutes remaining when substitute Tseng Chih-Wei played in Lin, but Cambodia goalkeeper Yaty was out quickly off his line.

“From an offensive side, two goals at home is a new thing so is a plus for us; however, two goals against is not acceptable, so we will have to focus on this for the next game,” said Chinese Taipei coach Toshiaki Imai.

“The defensive performance was lower than my expectations, but we didn’t have a lot of time to practice together so it’s not easy.

“Pan’s penalty save was very important because we still have a fighting chance to get a win in Cambodia.

“We took the lead, but I said before the game we needed to focus on our defence and this was an immature performance. I need to teach the defensive line to work better together in the future.

“We created a lot through the middle in the first half, but due to the humidity, our fitness was less in the second half, which might have affected the result.”