Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
AFC U-23 CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFIERS: THAILAND 2-1 CAMBODIA
Bangkok: It took hosts Thailand late in the game to come from behind and beat Cambodia 2-1 in their AFC U-23 Championship 2016 qualifying campaign opener at the Rajamangala Stadium on Friday.
The visiting Cambodians drew first blood on 12 minutes through skipper Prak Mony Udom in the Group G game.
Inpinit Pinyo, who scored a goal in Thailand’s 13-0 romp against Guam during qualifying for the 2012 AFC U-19 Championship, scored his second international goal on 57 minutes to level affairs with Cambodia.
Chenrop Samphaodi, who came off the bench to replace Chayawat Srinawong on 52 minutes, then found Cambodia’s net in second-half stoppage time to rake in all three points from the game.
Thailand, who now sit second in the Group G standings on goal difference below DPR Korea who beat the Philippines 4-0 in the group’s earlier fixture, will take on the Filipinos while Cambodia face DPR Korea on Sunday.
Ten group winners and five best second-placed teams from all groups will join hosts Qatar at the AFC U-23 Championship 2016, with January’s 16-team competition also serving as Asia’s qualifying tournament for the Olympic Games in Rio.