The women’s national football team has made history by securing a spot in the final of the 2024 AFF Women’s Cup, marking the first time they have ever reached this stage of the prestigious tournament.

An impressive 3-0 victory over Timor-Leste in the semi-finals on Monday, December 2 at the New Laos National Stadium in Laos was met with widespread praise and admiration from football fans and supporters alike.

The historic achievement came after a strong performance, with all three goals in the match scored by players from Phnom Penh Crown FC. The first goal was netted by Soeurn Vipha, a key striker for the team, who converted a penalty in the 36th minute. The penalty was awarded after a foul by a Timor-Leste defender, who brought her down as she attempted to enter the penalty box following a short pass from Heng Sovanmony.

Adding to the excitement, Poern Kunthea, another standout player from Phnom Penh Crown, made a huge impact when she scored twice in the second half. Her first happened in the 73rd minute with a well-timed shot that found the back of the net, following a cross into the danger area by Hok Saody.

Her second goal came in the 90th minute, with a powerful shot from the left corner that perfectly curved into the net, sealing the victory for the Kingdom.

Poern Kunthea (centre) scored two second-half goals to seal the victory. To date, she is the leading tournament goal scorer. FFC

Poern Kunthea’s brace not only secured the win but also pushed her to the top of the goal-scoring charts with three goals, making her a contender for the Golden Boot. She currently leads the tournament, with Indonesian player Claudia Scheunemann trailing on two goals.

The success of the team in reaching the final has created a buzz in the football community, and supporters are thrilled with the team’s historic achievement. The Football Federation of Cambodia (FFC) congratulated the team on their remarkable accomplishment, calling it a new milestone in the country’s football history. 

“Congratulations to the Cambodian Women's National Team for reaching the final for the first time in history at the 2024 AFF Women’s Cup,” announced the federation, via social media. 

National football team squad members celebrate their historic achievement. This is the first time they have played their way into a cup final. FFC

Khuon Laboravy, the former star forward for the men’s squad and current head coach of the Cambodian women's team, expressed his joy and pride in leading his players to this historic moment.

“Thank you to all my outstanding players and coaching staff! We made this happen together," he said, in a short social media post. He also emphasised his determination to lead the team to victory in the final.

Cambodia will face Indonesia in the final match on December 5, after Indonesia triumphed 3-0 over Singapore in their semi-final. 

The national football team are surrounded by patriotic fans at the New Laos National Stadium following their victorious semi-final. FFC

The match will take place at the National Stadium KM16 in Laos at 7.30pm. 

When the two sides met in the group stages of the competition, they played to a goalless draw.

Semi-final losers Timor-Leste and Singapore will compete for third place in a match scheduled for Thursday. 

Regardless of the result, the Cambodian team’s historic journey has inspired hope and excitement for the future of women’s football in the country.