The «Arkadag» footballers went to Cambodia for the final match of the 2024/25 AFC Challenge League against the local club «Preah Khan Rich Svay Rieng».
The opponent of the current two-time champion of Turkmenistan in the decisive match of the tournament was determined based on the results of two semi-final meetings of the Cambodian champion with the Indonesian club «Madura United».
In the first game in Phnom Penh, «Svay Rieng» won 3:0 thanks to goals by Breninho (4th minute), Boonphachan Bounkong (6th) and Min Ratanak (90th). And in the return match in the Indonesian city of Pamekasan on the island of Madura, the opponents tied 3:3. The visitors, who were leading during the match 1:0, 3:1, scored goals from Gabriel Silva (5th minute), Boonphachan Bounkong (28th) and Min Ratanak (56th). The goals of the hosts were scored by Pedro Monteiro (27th) and Andy Irfan (58th). Another goal flew into the Cambodian club’s net after an own goal by Vireak Dar (76th).
The final match of the 2024/25 AFC Challenge League will be held on the 10th of May in Phnom Penh at the «Morodok Techo» National Stadium, which seats 60,000 spectators.
Both finalists approached the decisive game for the continental trophy in good shape: «Svay Rieng» retained the Cambodian Premier League title, and «Arkadag» began its title defense with six consecutive victories. Both teams are competing for their first Asian Cup, adding even more excitement to the final.
Four-time Cambodian champion »Svay Rieng» has been coached by Spanish specialist Pep Munoz since 6th of May, 2023. At the pre-match press conference today, the head coach of the «Preah Khan Rich Svay Rieng» team and his colleague from FC Arkadag «Ahmet Allaberdiyev» promised to show an uncompromising fight in the 2024/25 AFC Challenge League final.
«We trained hard to show our best side, please our fans and win the game», –said Munoz.
Tickets for the final are already sold out. In the most important match in the history of the Cambodian club, 60,000 fans will support it, and the Spaniard Munoz is happy with such support.
«I want to thank the fans, because I know that tickets were difficult to get. The match will be broadcast on big screens all over the country, and we will do everything possible to make them happy», –assured the coach of the Cambodian club.
Speaking about the opponent, the head coach of «Svay Rieng» said that he is well aware of the strength of Arkadag.
«I know that Arkadag likes to play attacking football, and we are ready for it. We had a whole week to prepare for the final, and we tried to do everything we needed. We focused on instilling confidence in the players. It will not be easy to win, but we will do everything possible for this», –Munoz emphasised.
His counterpart Ahmet Allaberdiyev said that victory in the final is also necessary for the Turkmen team, since it will not only provide the players with a continental trophy, but also experience that will help them advance in their careers.
«We will do everything possible to win. If we reached the final, it means we did everything right, and now it’s about winning the trophy», –A. Allaberdiyev said.
The «Arkadag» coach also noted that he is not worried about the fact that the opponent will be supported by numerous fans.
«Playing in front of a full stadium will give us more strength and emotions. We have worked very hard, and the fans only motivate us to give it our all», –said Ahmet Allaberdiyev.
He also said that «Arkadag» will not make a mistake by underestimating «Svay Rieng», so the main focus will be on demonstrating their best game.
«We respect «Svay Rieng» and know that they are a good team, but tomorrow on the pitch we will do everything possible to win the trophy».
The AFC Challenge League is the third most important club tournament in Asia, which involves teams of a weaker level than those in the elite AFC Champions League and AFC Champions League 2. It was established for ambitious teams to demonstrate their football talents.
