Cambodia, preparing for the second round of 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying in June, delighted a packed crowd when they beat a Metfone Cambodian League Japanese selection team in a friendly on the newly installed artificial turf at the Olympic Stadium on Sunday evening.

The MCL Japanese All Stars took the lead after 14 minutes, but striker Kouch Sokumpheak scored an equaliser before Teab Vathanak and Khoun Laboravy added two more goals to give Cambodia a 3-1 half-time lead.

Va Quintin bagged another in the second half to complete a 4-1 win for the Angkor Warriors. However, Cambodia’s Japanese coach Ohara Kasunori said yesterday that: “I can see the Cambodian national team had a good performance and are physically at 100 per cent strength, but the spirit and the rhythm in the side is not quite there yet, which is something we have to improve.” Kasunori said Cambodia will play an MCL African All Stars side on May 28.