The build-up

A downpour greeted the teams arrival on the pitch before the national anthems and presentation to the VIP guests

The friendly international at the Olympic Stadium yesterday was the first real test for the new Cambodian Under-23 squad and they now know the standard they must achieve to be able to challenge teams like Singapore and the better teams in the Asian region, especially with the SEA Games coming up in a couple of months. But they always knew it was a tough game to open with, and so it proved. Singapore were clinical in disposing of Cambodia, once their heads dropped after a bright opening 35 minutes. Lots of valuable lessons to be learnt from such games and lots of areas to work on in their training camp in Vietnam next month. Here are some photos from the build up to yesterday's match.

The rest of the Cambodian U23 starting line-up enter the playing arena

Sun Sovannarith leads out the Cambodian U23 team against Singapore

Some of the Cambodia substitutes take their place on the bench

Ngoun Chansothea leads out the Cambodian U23 substitutes

The Cambodian team warm up before their opening game

Singapore's experienced national team manager Raddy Avramovic, in charge since 2003