Unlike their June 12 capitulation at home, Cambodia put up a stiff fight in their away clash against Singapore before going down 1-2 to the Lions in a Group E World Cup qualifier at the Sports Hub last Tuesday.

The only comforting sight for Cambodia’s coach Lee Tae Hoon was that of Sos Souhana’s 66th minute goal that reduced the home side’s two-goal advantage and was the first for the Kingdom in five matches after having conceded 16 goals in five games.

Taking the pitch on the back of their 1-0 victory over Afghanistan at the same venue five days earlier, Singapore shot into the lead in the 16th minute through a Faris Ramli header.

After Khairul Amri saw his feeble penalty saved, Singapore doubled their lead in the 48th minute when Fazrul Nawaz exploited a chink in the visitors defence.

However, Sos Souhana’s cheeky goal and a few daring moves thereafter kept the Cambodian hopes alive for a while but the home side was in no mood to relent.

Cambodia will travel to Tehran to face Afghanistan next on November 12, with the much-anticipated home game against Japan days later.

The eight group winners and four best second placed teams will advance to the final qualifying phase from Asia and also the 2019 AFC Asian Cup.