The 2022 AFF Championship is now underway with four nations kicking-off the latest edition of Southeast Asia’s regional football tournament on Tuesday. And already there was a shock result – the Philippines suffering a 3-2 defeat away at Cambodia in their Group A opener, while the group’s other match saw Brunei Darussalam being demolished 5-0 by defending champions Thailand in their first AFF Championship game in 26 years.
Led by their new head coach Josep Ferre, the Philippines travel to the Mordok Techo Stadium in Phnom Penh to take on Cambodia in the opening match of this year’s AFF Championship. The Azkals brought a decent squad with them for their AFF campaign and despite the absence of Europe-based stars in Neil Etheridge, Geritt Holtmann, as well as the newly-naturalized Bienvenido Maranon, they could still count upon the likes of Kevin Ray Mendoza, Stephan Schrock, Amani Aguinaldo, and the J.League-based Tabinas brothers Jefferson and Paul.
Cambodia, on the other hand, came to this match in poor form, having not won in their last five games in all competitions, losing four and drawing one in a run that included a 4-0 thrashing by Malaysia in their most recent friendly before this year’s AFF Championship.
Despite their torrid form, Cambodia shockingly took the lead in the 16th minute after a cross from Seut Baraing was poked into Mendoza’s goal by Reung Bunheing, with the Visakha FC player outsmarting both Jefferson and Aguinaldo before finishing things off from close range.
Orn Chanpolin then made it 2-0 for the Angkor Warriors in the 20th minute, the Phnom Penh Crown midfielder lashing a venomous strike with his left foot that Mendoza was unable to react to in time.
Kenshiro Daniels gave the Philippines a glimmer of hope in the 41st minute after he had seized upon a deflected Arnel Amita shot to blast home the rebound past Cambodia goalkeeper Keo Soksela.
The second half saw the Philippines finally getting their equalizer in the 55th minute. Once again it was United City FC man Daniels who found the back of the net, pouncing upon an Aguinaldo through ball before firing a precise shot into Soksela’s goal.
Cambodia had the last laugh, though, as Bunheing almost immediately regained the lead for the Angkor Warriors in the 59th minute with a powerful header.
The likes of Schrock and substitute Jarvey Gayoso tried their best in salvaging the game for the Philippines, but the absences of Etheridge, Holtmann, and Maranon were dearly felt as the Azkals slipped into a shock defeat.
Meanwhile, at the KLFA Stadium in Kuala Lumpur, acting hosts Brunei welcome heavyweights Thailand in their first AFF Championship game since 1996.
The Tebuan were without their star man Faiq Bolkiah, who plies his trade with Thai League side Chonburi FC, while a good majority of their squad was made out of former Singapore Premier League side DPMM FC, who dominated this year’s Brunei FA Cup.
And whilst Brunei were eventually no match for the Changsuek, they did at least kept the scoreline respectable until the final few minutes of the match.
Bordin Phala gave Thailand the lead in the 19th minute from a devastating attacking scheme, while Teerasil Dangda established himself as the all-time top scorer of the AFF Championship with Thailand’s second goal in the 44th minute. The goal was Teerasil’s 20th AFF Championship goal, pulling himself further from Singapore legend Noh Alam Shah in 2nd place with 17 goals.
Despite being utterly dominated by the favorites, Brunei managed to prevent Thailand from scoring more until the 88th minute, when DPMM defender Yura Indera inadvertently sent the ball past his own keeper.
This enabled Thailand to completely kill the game off in injury time, with Peeradol Chamratsamee scoring a brace in the first and third minutes of additional time.
The huge win meant that Thailand lead Group A with three points, with Cambodia below them. The Philippines are fourth, while Brunei are rock bottom. Indonesia sat third, having not played on Tuesday. The Timnas Garuda will not kick-off their AFF campaign until December 23rd, taking on Cambodia at the Gelora Bung Karno.