Svay Rieng (in blue) suffered a 1-0 home defeat to Indonesia’s PSM Makassar FC on January 8. Svay Rieng
The Preah Khan Reach Svay Rieng football squad travelled to Vietnam on Monday, where they will face Dong A Thanh Hoa in a must-win fourth group stage match of the ASEAN Club Championship Shopee Cup 2024/2025.
The match will take place at Thanh Hoa Stadium at 6pm on Wednesday, January 22.
Coach Pep Munoz has called the game a “final” for his team, as a victory is crucial to keep their hopes of advancing to the semi-finals alive. Speaking to the media at Phnom Penh International Airport on Monday, he explained the situation.
“This match against Dong A Thanh Hoa is like a final. If we win, we have a chance to compete in the next round, but if we lose, we are out of the tournament,” he said.
In their first three matches, Svay Rieng has earned just three points. They defeated Malaysia’s Terengganu FC 3-2 on August 21 but lost 2-1 to Thailand’s BG Pathum United on September 25 and then suffered a 1-0 home defeat against Indonesia’s PSM Makassar FC on January 8.
Svay Rieng coach Pep Munoz speaks to the media at Phnom Penh International Airport on Monday. Svay Rieng
The club finds itself in a precarious position, with a win over Thanh Hoa needed to remain in contention.
Munoz acknowledged the high quality of the Vietnamese team, praising their organisation and skill level.
“Dong A Thanh Hoa is an excellent team. They are currently leading their domestic league, and they are unbeaten in this tournament. They’ve performed very well, so we are focusing intensely and motivating our players for this match,” he said.
Thanh Hoa has performed solidly in their three matches so far, with a 3-1 win over Myanmar’s Shan United, a 2-2 draw with Malaysia’s Terengganu FC and a 1-1 draw with Thailand’s BG Pathum United. This places them second in the group with five points, tied with BG Pathum.
SM Makassar FC tops the group with seven points, followed by Terengganu with four points and Preah Khan Reach Svay Rieng with three points. Shan United sits at the bottom, having lost all three matches.
Vietnamese domestic champions Dong A Thanh Hoa pose for a team shot ahead of their 1-1 draw with BG Pathum United. BG Pathum
The close competition in Group A has heightened the stakes for advancing to the semi-finals.
“Teams like Dong A Thanh Hoa, BG Pathum, and Terengganu are all excellent. However, Thanh Hoa stands out with their strong performances, especially in their draws against BG Pathum and Terengganu. They are a formidable team, and we must concentrate fully on our match against them,” warned Munoz.
The intense competition promises a thrilling showdown as teams fight for their place in the next stage.
