Conor Nestor bear hugs striker Mat Noron, who scored a beautiful free kick to help Boeung Ket secure a 1-0 win over ISI Dangkao Senchey last night. Boeung Ket
Boeung Ket secured a narrow 1-0 victory over ISI Dangkor Senchey in the second leg of the Hun Sen Cup quarterfinals last night, earning a place in the semifinals. Head coach Conor Nestor was unsurprised by the result.
“Defeating ISI doesn’t surprise me because we were already in a strong position after our 2-0 win in the first leg. That’s why we focused heavily on our defensive organisation in this second leg,” he said, after the match.
“I expected us to win again, and in the end we did just that, to advance to the semifinals,” he added.
The April 3 match at the National Olympic Stadium was not an easy one. Boeung Ket adopted a defensive strategy, adjusting to the game's flow, while ISI pressed aggressively, especially in the second half, in search of goals to overturn their first-leg deficit. However, ISI failed to break through, and Boeung Ket sealed their win with a stunning free-kick goal from forward Mat Noron in the 90+3rd minute.
Boeung Ket will now face defending champions Preah Khan Reach Svay Rieng in the semifinals.
Their last encounter in the 2024 tournament saw Boeung Ket suffer a 3-1 home defeat in the first leg before winning 2-1 in the return leg, ultimately losing 4-3 on aggregate.
Reflecting on that past meeting, Nestor — who took charge of Boeung Ket in October 2024 — highlighted the defensive gaps that cost his team.
“I've reviewed our March 2024 match against Svay Rieng, and I noted that we had too many defensive weaknesses, which allowed them to score three goals,” he said.
The April 3 match was a close one, with Boeung Ket (in purple) adopting a defensive strategy, adjusting to the game's flow, while ISI pressed aggressively. Boeung Ket
This time, Nestor is determined to avoid repeating past mistakes.
“We need to focus on minimising defensive gaps when we face Svay Rieng in the semifinals. I will make sure we are well-prepared and avoid giving them easy chances,” he explained.
The Irish coach, who previously managed Svay Rieng, acknowledged that football is unpredictable.
“Many people assume strong teams always beat weaker ones, but that’s not always the case. In football, even top teams can lose to underdogs,” he remarked.
Nestor is also working on improving his squad’s mentality, urging them to take every match seriously, including friendlies.
“I don’t want to see a dressing room where players are not fully focused on every match. Winning should become a habit, and that’s the mindset I want to instil in my team,” he said.
His ultimate goal? To make history by leading Boeung Ket to the final of the 2025 Hun Sen Cup.
