In 2011, Cambodian giants Phnom Penh Crown fell just short of continental glory, losing 3-2 to Taiwan’s Taipower FC in the AFC President’s Cup final in Kaohsiung. Nearly 14 years later, history cruelly repeated itself as Preah Khan Reach Svay Rieng suffered a 2-1 extra-time defeat to Turkmenistan’s FK Arkadag in the final of the inaugural AFC Challenge League.
Svay Rieng’s heartbreak was all the more painful given the setting: the Morodok Techo National Stadium in Phnom Penh. The home crowd had turned the venue into a fortress throughout the knockout stages, witnessing a thrilling nine-goal haul as Svay Rieng dispatched Myanmar’s Shan United and Indonesia’s Madura United on their path to the final.
For FK Arkadag, their maiden continental triumph marks a significant milestone in their meteoric—and controversial—rise in Asian football.
The club was founded by the Berdimuhamedow family, Turkmenistan’s ruling dynasty. Former president Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, widely regarded as a dictator, laid the foundations for the club, while his son and current president, Serdar Berdimuhamedow, officially inaugurated it in 2023. FK Arkadag has been widely viewed as a vanity project, crafted to promote both the family’s cult of personality and the newly developed smart city of Arkadag—a city that stands as a monument to the elder Berdimuhamedow’s ambitions.
The influence of the Berdimuhamedow family within Arkadag was unmistakable. During their debut year, the club was granted an extended transfer window, allowing them to cherry-pick top players from rival teams and effectively consolidate domestic dominance. What followed was a staggering 61-match winning streak across all competitions—an achievement that even the Guinness World Records declined to recognize, citing governance concerns within the Turkmen Ýokary Liga. Allegations also surfaced suggesting that league officials were pressured or strategically placed to favor Arkadag, ensuring the dynasty-backed club would sweep domestic honors.
While AFC competitions are generally more insulated from such political influence, Arkadag’s performances in their home legs could still raise questions. In several matches, the Turkmen side scored decisive goals in the dying minutes—goals that tipped the balance and secured their progression. Though not definitive proof of manipulation, the pattern invites scrutiny.
In stark contrast, Svay Rieng’s rise reflects the fruit of a structural overhaul within Cambodian football. Since 2021, the Cambodian Premier League has undergone major reform, largely driven by the involvement of former FC Barcelona staffer Satoshi Saito and Japan legend Keisuke Honda. Their arrival injected a much-needed dose of professionalism and youth development, reshaping the footballing landscape in Cambodia.
Although Honda has since stepped away from the national team setup, the league remains in the capable hands of Saito, whose stewardship mirrors the transformational leadership of Benjamin Tan in the Thai League beginning in 2017. Thanks to this shift, Cambodian clubs like Svay Rieng, Phnom Penh Crown, and Visakha FC have begun making waves across the region. In recent years, they’ve notched impressive wins over more established clubs such as Bali United (Indonesia), Kaya FC-Iloilo (Philippines), Terengganu FC (Malaysia), and even Australia’s Macarthur FC—signaling a new era for Cambodian football.
The stage was set on May 10th in Phnom Penh—a showdown between two contrasting footballing ideologies. On one side stood Svay Rieng, a club built on solid league governance and long-term development. On the other, Arkadag, a team whose rapid rise was fueled by political power and controversy. It was more than just a final—it was a clash of values.
Before a raucous crowd of 60,000 Cambodians packed into the Morodok Techo National Stadium, Svay Rieng began brightly. The attacking duo of Cristian Roque and Bounpachan Bounkong repeatedly tested Arkadag goalkeeper Rasul Çaryýew in a tense, goalless first half.
But it was the visitors who drew first blood. In the 57th minute, a pinpoint corner from Şanazar Tirkişow met the head of veteran defender Mekan Saparow, whose thumping effort gave Arkadag the lead.
Still, Svay Rieng showed immense character. Spurred on by their home support, they pressed forward with Chou Sinti and Pablo leading the charge. Their persistence paid off in the 82nd minute when an inch-perfect cross from Takeshi Odawara was met by right-back Sareth Krya, whose towering header leveled the match and reignited hope across the stadium.
With the score tied 1-1 after regulation, the match entered extra time. As Svay Rieng pushed for a historic winner, it was Arkadag who found the breakthrough. In the 111th minute, Arzuwguly Sapargulýyew slipped a perfectly weighted pass through to Altymyrat Annadurdyýew, who calmly slotted home past Vireak Dara to restore Arkadag’s lead.
Despite Svay Rieng’s desperate late push, Arkadag held firm to claim a narrow 2-1 victory—securing the inaugural AFC Challenge League title and giving their “world’s best club” moniker a veneer of legitimacy.
In the end, it was a tale of heartbreak for Svay Rieng and a hollow triumph for Arkadag. While the Turkmen side leaves with the trophy, it is the Cambodian club—and the nation behind them—that emerged with something far more enduring: respect, pride, and the promise of a brighter footballing future built on merit, not machinery.