Cambodia remain empty-handed

Cambodia skipper Ouk Mic kept the score at 0-0 with a great save at the end of the game

Cambodia needed to beat the Philippines this afternoon to make sure of AFF Suzuki Cup qualification. At the half-time interval, with the game being played in Vientiane, Laos, it was all square at 0-0 though Cambodia shaded the 1st half and hit the woodwork twice. Cambodia have used the flanks to good effect and after Khim Borey was fouled on the bye-line, Sun Sopanha fired one against the join of the upright and cross-bar on 28 minutes. Five minutes later Keo Sokngorn was fouled on the edge of the box and Khuon Laboravy curled a left-foot free-kick goalwards. Phils' keeper Neil Etheridge pulled off a superb diving save, tipping it onto the crossbar and as it dropped Kuoch Sokumpheak dived to head it in, only for Etheridge to recover and catch it. Despite some questionable refereeing decisions and some strong-arm tactics by Philippines (they had 7 players booked), Cambodia are doing well and now need to push on to get that all-important first goal.
In the 2nd half Cambodia again had chances to open the scoring. Sokumpheak volleyed just past the post early on, then he swung his foot but missed connecting with a Laboravy cross on the hour, inside the six-yard box. A minute later both Laboravy and Sokumpheak couldn't reach a Borey cross that skidded across the Filipino goal-line and on 75 minutes it looked like Nuth Sinoun had latched onto a long ball as Etheridge dithered but the striker fluffed it and fell over the keeper, when taking it round him looked the easy option. Both teams tired and the game became stretched, Cambodia's touch deserted them and whilst Philippines were happy to play for the draw, Ouk Mic kept the score at 0-0 with a last-gasp save from Younghusband. So, acutely disappointing for Cambodia, they had the opportunity to progress but failed to find that vital final touch in front of goal. If Timor beat Laos in the final game (do miracles happen?) or at least hold them to a single-goal defeat, then Cambodia can still go through but I'm not putting my house on that happening.
And as expected, Laos stuffed Timor 6-1 and Cambodia missed out on qualification on goal difference despite ending on 5 points, the same total as the two qualifiers, Laos and Philippines. Drat and double-drat.
The Cambodia line-up: Mic, Raksmey, Rady, Rithy, Tiny; Narith, Sopanha, Borey (Soksana 83m), Sokngorn (Saray 64m); Sokumpheak, Laboravy (Sinoun 75m). [Subs not used] Borin, Piseth, Sothearath, Bunchhay.

Defender Tieng Tiny, one of 8 players booked in the game, played as well as ever

Khuon Laboravy's first-half free-kick that struck the crossbar was the closest Cambodia came to scoring

Keo Sokngorn had one of his quieter games in the jersey of the national team
Cambodia before kick-off. Back (LtoR): Mic, Tiny, Sopanha, Rady, Rithy, Laboravy. Front: Raksmey, Narith, Sokngorn, Sokumpheak, Borey. [Photo by www.affsuzukicup.com]