Nagaworld defender Mateus Martins Da Conceicao (at rear) jumps to contest the ball against Boeung Ket’s Iago Bento Fernandes. Nagaworld FC
Despite knowing that defending champions Preah Khan Reach Svay Rieng are rediscovering their excellent form, the coach and players of NagaWorld are determined to achieve a positive result against them in this evening’s clash.
Svay Rieng just defeated Visakha 1-0 to climb to second place in the Cambodian Premier League (CPL) behind leaders Phnom Penh Crown, while NagaWorld are smarting from a 5-1 loss to Boeung Ket on Sunday.
NagaWorld coach Khim Borey acknowledged that tonight’s 6pm match at the Kampong Speu Provincial Stadium will be a tough encounter. Svay Rieng defeated Naga 2-0 in their first-leg meeting on September 18, and have since improved their performance. However, Khim Borey remains resolute.
“This will be a challenging match as we face the defending champions, Preah Khan Reach Svay Rieng. However, it’s also a crucial game for us to secure a good result, especially after our last performance (against Boeung Ket), which was below par,” he told a Thursday press conference.
The heavy loss on Sunday – played at Svay Rieng's home ground – left them with 22 points from 13 matches, placing them fifth in the CPL standings.
To make matters worse, they will be without key Brazilian defender Mateus Martins Da Conceicao, wearing jersey number 75, for tonight's game.
Borey addressed the concerns of fans.
“The absence of Mateus is a worry for us, but we have other players ready to step in. I have full confidence in all my players, and I believe they can rise to the occasion,” he explained.
Visakha's forward Ramon De Andrede Souza (in white) competes for the ball with Svay Rieng's Cristian Roque. Visakha FC
“We know that Preah Khan Reach Svay Rieng is a strong team with many quality players. However, our entire team is well-prepared for this match,” added Naga goalkeeper Reth Lyheng.
On the other side, Svay Rieng coach Jose Munoz also anticipated a difficult encounter. Despite NagaWorld’s recent heavy loss, Munoz described the two teams as evenly matched, though he acknowledged that NagaWorld has struggled to convert chances.
“Naga’s foreign players in attack are of high quality, and their local players are strong defensively. This will be another tough and competitive match for us,” he told the assembled media, during the Thursday pre-match press conference.
However, he pointed out that NagaWorld often struggle in their home games, which he views as an advantage for Svay Rieng. Additionally, he believed the artificial turf at Kampong Speu Stadium will suit Svay Rieng's style of play, giving them an edge.
“This season, NagaWorld hasn’t performed well at home, and we aim to capitalise on that. The artificial turf at Kampong Speu Stadium is of high quality and poses no issues for us since we are a team that thrives on maintaining possession in matches like this. We have 4-5 injured players, but we still have 20 others ready to play,” he explained.
