YANGON (5 Oct 2012) – Timor Leste made a grand start to their first game of the AFF Suzuki Cup 2012 qualifiers when they beat Cambodia 5-1 in the match that was played at the Youth Training Centre this afternoon.
Two goals each from Murilo de Almeida (39th and 44th minute) and Adelino Oliveira (56th and 74th minute) before a penalty from striker Alan Pinheiro in the 87th minute gave the Timorese their first ever win since the qualifiers were introduced in 2007.
“It was not the result which was important but rather the way they played together as a unit that made the difference,” said Emerson Alcantara, the chief coach of Timor Lester afterwards.
The Timorese who had only picked up one point from the last three editions of the qualifiers were a lot more determined this time round as they look to improve further on their positive showing at the SEA Games in Jakarta last year.
The Cambodians tried to resist in the opening first quarter as they fend off the attack led by the stocky Alan Pinheiro and Murilo de Almeida.
But after denied for much of the first half, Timor finally carved out the lead in the 39th minute when off a Pinheiro cross, the opportunistic Murilo glanced the ball past Cambodian keeper Sou Taty.
And with just a minute left of the first half, Murilo found the back of the net fir the second time when he made good on a play back from Jose Vide.
Timor started stronger into the second half where just nine minutes in, Adelino unleashed a dipping shot for their third goal of the game. Cambodia tried to get their act together but they were finding it hard against the more physically superior Timorese.
In the 74th minute, Timor nailed their fourth goal of the game through Adelino as a penalty three minutes to the end from Pinheiro gave them their first three points of the competition and destined Cambodia to a tough road ahead.
By the time, Cambodia converted a penalty through striker Keo Sokngon, the game was already over as a competition.
“The players were finding it hard against the more physical side from Timor. Most of my players are under the age of 21-years-old so they struggled somewhat,” added Hok Sochetra, the chief coach of Cambodia.
AFF SUZUKI CUP 2012
Qualifying Round
– Brunei, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar and Timor Leste
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