Indonesia’s PSM Makassar claimed the top spot in Group A of the 2024/25 ASEAN Club Championship with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Cambodian champions Preah Khan Reach Svay Rieng FC at the National Olympic Stadium in Phnom Penh on Wednesday.
The match’s decisive moment came just 38 seconds in when Nermin Haljeta scored what would ultimately be the winning goal. Despite intense pressure from Svay Rieng, PSM held firm to secure three crucial points and move two points clear at the top of the group.
Having started their campaign with a 3-2 win over Malaysia’s Terengganu FC followed by a narrow 2-1 loss to Thailand’s BG Pathum United, Svay Rieng entered the game eager to earn a victory in their first Shopee Cup fixture at home.
However, PSM had other ideas.
The match began with a bang as Slovenian forward Haljeta latched onto a lofted pass from Victor Dethan, beating the Svay Rieng defense with his pace before expertly chipping the ball over advancing goalkeeper Vireak Dara, giving the Juku Eja an early lead.
Despite the early setback, Svay Rieng did not crumble. They maintained a solid defensive structure for the remainder of the first half, frustrating PSM’s attack. PSM’s chances were limited, with a shot from Victor brushing the side netting in the 11th minute and a half-chance for Haljeta in the 40th minute marking their only other meaningful opportunities before halftime.
The hosts thought they had equalized just before the break when Nick Taylor, played through by Bounphachan Bounkong, found the back of the net. However, the assistant referee’s flag went up for a marginal offside, denying them the crucial goal.
Early in the second half, PSM nearly doubled their lead. Svay Rieng captain Soeuy Visal saw his clearance blocked, leaving Haljeta unmarked in the box, but the striker’s shot narrowly missed the target. Haljeta’s frustration continued when he appeared to score in the 60th minute after a rapid counterattack. Initially awarded by the referee, the goal was disallowed following a VAR review, which ruled a foul by Akbar Tanjung in the buildup.
As the game progressed, Svay Rieng grew more aggressive in their pursuit of an equalizer. In the 72nd minute, Gabriel Silva – a target for Barito Putera in the 2024/25 Liga 1 Indonesia mid-season transfer window – dispossessed Mufli Hidayat in midfield and surged into the box, forcing PSM goalkeeper Reza Arya Pratama into a critical save. Later, Svay Rieng’s Japanese defender Takashi Odawara headed a Bounphachan corner onto the roof of the net in the 85th minute, keeping the home side’s hopes alive.
Svay Rieng’s best opportunity came moments later in a dramatic sequence. As PSM attempted to play out from the back, Bounphachan intercepted the ball from Aloisio Neto near the byline. The ensuing layoff from Narong Kakada found Min Ratanak in front of an open goal, but PSM captain Yuran Fernandes made a heroic block to deny the Cambodians a late equalizer.
With this victory, PSM solidified their position as Group A leaders. Their next challenge will be an away game against Terengganu on January 22, while Svay Rieng, who are second from the bottom with three points, face Vietnam’s Dong A Thanh Hoa on the same day in a bid to keep their campaign alive.