Preah Khan Reach Svay Rieng’s dominant 3-0 victory over Madura United in the first leg of the 2024/25 AFC Challenge League semifinal on April 10th has reignited hope across Cambodia. It marks a genuine chance for a Cambodian club to reach a continental final for the first time since Phnom Penh Crown’s run to the 2011 AFC President’s Cup final.
The match was effectively decided within the first 10 minutes, as Svay Rieng capitalized on a weary Madura United side still recovering from their 1-0 win over Persija Jakarta on April 6th. A third-minute strike from Breno Caetano, followed by a fifth-minute finish from Laotian international Bounpachan Bounkong, gave the hosts a lightning-fast 2-0 lead. The absence of Koko Ari Araya—forced off with an injury in the previous match—was clearly felt, as his replacement, Ibrahim Sanjaya, struggled to cope with Svay Rieng’s relentless pressure. Adding to Madura United’s woes, the usually dependable Lulinha committed an uncharacteristic error that directly led to Bounkong’s goal, further swinging momentum in the hosts’ favor.
Madura United were second best throughout, and their hopes of a comeback were further dented when substitute Min Ratanak added a late third to ensure the Laskar Sapeh Kerrab face an uphill battle in the return leg on April 17th.
But in truth, Svay Rieng’s superb performance was nothing out of the ordinary—it was a continuation of the impressive form they’ve consistently shown in continental competitions this season, both in the AFC Challenge League and the ASEAN Club Championship.
While they ultimately fell short of the knockout rounds in the latter, Svay Rieng pushed regional heavyweights BG Pathum United and PSM Makassar to the limit in narrow defeats, held Dong A Thanh Hoa to a goalless draw, and secured wins over both Terengganu FC and Shan United—the former on the road at the Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin Stadium.
Aside from the clash with Shan United, Svay Rieng entered each of those fixtures as underdogs—yet repeatedly defied expectations.
Svay Rieng also carried their strong form into the AFC Challenge League, where they edged out SP Falcons 2-1 in Mongolia to kick off their campaign.
Their only setbacks in the competition so far came in a group stage loss to Madura United—also in Mongolia—and a second-leg quarterfinal defeat to Shan United in Myanmar. Otherwise, the Cambodians have made full use of their home advantage, turning the Morodok Techo National Stadium into a fortress and powering their way into the semifinals.
This was evident in the first leg of the quarterfinals, where Svay Rieng stunned Shan United with a commanding 6-2 victory in March, before exacting revenge on Madura United a month later for their earlier group stage defeat in Mongolia. The cavernous atmosphere of the Morodok Techo National Stadium—amplified by the passionate Svay Rieng faithful who made the 2-hour-41-minute journey from their home province to Phnom Penh—created a cauldron of noise and energy that proved overwhelming for visiting sides.
Svay Rieng’s impressive continental run evokes memories of Phnom Penh Crown’s 2011 AFC President’s Cup campaign—the closest a Cambodian club has come to tasting continental glory. That year, Crown battled past Sri Lanka’s Don Bosco, Bangladesh’s Dhaka Abahani Limited, Kyrgyzstan’s Neftchi Kochkor-Ata, and Myanmar’s Yadanarbon FC to reach the final, only to suffer a heartbreaking 3-2 defeat to Taiwan’s Taipower.
Phnom Penh Crown had also demonstrated just how far Cambodian football has progressed since that 2011 campaign. In the 2023/24 AFC Cup, they recorded impressive victories over Laos’ Young Elephants, Singaporean giants Tampines Rovers, Filipino side Dynamic Herb Cebu, Myanmar’s Shan United, and even Australia’s Macarthur FC to reach the ASEAN Zonal semifinals. Their remarkable run was ultimately halted by fellow Australian side and eventual champions, Central Coast Mariners—but not before firmly establishing Crown, and Cambodian football, as a growing force on the regional stage.
Now, with one foot firmly in the AFC Challenge League final, Svay Rieng stand on the cusp of making history—not just for themselves, but for Cambodian football as a whole. Their journey has been one defined by resilience, tactical maturity, and a fearless belief that they belong among Asia’s elite. Should they finish the job in the second leg, they won’t just be chasing silverware; they’ll be carrying the hopes of a footballing nation eager to see its clubs reclaim a place on the continental stage.