Shattered dreams

Cambodia's starting XI that faced Malaysia tonight. LtoR [back] Seiha, Dara, Sokngorn, Rithy, Rady, Tiny. [front] Sokumpheak, Narith, Sothearath, Soseila, Borey

Cambodia's SEA Games dreams were shattered by Malaysia 4-0 tonight, though it was a story of what might have been, before the Malaysians went onto rub salt into the wounds with three goals in the last 13 minutes. An in-depth look at the game will follow tomorrow morning as I haven't eaten anything substantial today and I don't want to collapse. Suffice to say, the first half could've gone either way though Malaysia nosed in front after 35 minutes. Cambodia were denied a goal when the referee made Kuoch Sokumpheak take a penalty twice and the keeper saved the 2nd one, just eight minutes into the 2nd half. That was a killer blow. Malaysia grabbed a 2nd goal on 77 minutes and after that it was effectively all over. Heartbreaking for the youngsters and their faces at the final whistle said it all. In the earlier game, Thailand thrashed East Timor 9-0.

The Cambodian bench stand for the national anthem

Three Cambodian competitors who came to cheer on their country

Members of the Cambodian shuttlecock team lend their support to the football team