With a remarkable result that will be etched in Cambodian football history, the U20 national team has secured a 1-0 victory over Bahrain’s U20 team in the AFC U20 Asian Cup qualifiers, held in Chinese Taipei.
The September 25 win marks the first time Cambodia has triumphed over Bahrain at any level, breaking past records and igniting hopes for the future of the Kingdom’s football.
Despite a rough history – including an 8-0 defeat to Bahrain in the last World Cup qualifiers in June 2021 – the Young Kouprey maintained their steely determination throughout the match. The first half ended in a stalemate at 0-0, but the young Cambodians ramped up their intensity in the second half, consistently pressuring the Bahraini defence.
Standout players like defender Bong Samuel and forward Mean Chanrith missed golden opportunities in the penalty area early on, and just moments into the second half, Sou Menghong received a beautifully timed pass from Tum Makara.
Menghong found himself one-on-one with the goalkeeper, but unfortunately, his shot went over the bar, a heart-wrenching near miss for the team.
However, the team’s persistent attacking play finally paid off. In the 68th minute, Chanrith capitalised on a well-placed ball from Menghong, slotting it home to give Cambodia the lead. He nearly added another goal in the 85th minute, but his shot was denied by the Bahraini keeper, keeping the score at 1-0, where it remained until the final whistle.
Following the victory, Chanrith expressed his immense pride in the team's achievement, saying, “We are extremely happy because we have broken our record of never having beaten Bahrain before.”
The victory marks the second win for the team in their qualifying campaign. They triumphed over Nepal 4-1 on September 21, before suffering a setback against Uzbekistan, losing 7-0 in their second match on September 23.
Thanks to their latest win, however, Cambodia sits second in Group B with six points, positioning themselves as strong contenders for a second-place group finish that could propel them into the AFC U20 Asian Cup in 2025.
The team's final group stage match will be against the host team, Chinese Taipei, on September 29. The excitement is palpable as the Young Kouprey continue to defy expectations and chase history on the football pitch.