Visakha Edges Preah Khan Reach Svay Rieng FC in C-League Season Opener

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (Interstat) — Visakha opened its 2026 Cambodian League campaign with a 2-1 victory over Preah Khan Reach Svay Rieng FC on Sunday at a sun-drenched Morodok Techo National Stadium, overcoming an early deficit with two rapid-fire goals.

The match, the season opener for both sides in Cambodia’s top-flight C-League, defied a pregame projection from Interstat that favored the home side. Their simulator had forecast a 2-1 win for Preah Khan Reach, though their ELO rating system gave Visakha a 61.3% probability of victory.

It was the home side, Preah Khan Reach Svay Rieng FC, that struck first. Defender Saret Krya broke the deadlock in the 19th minute, powering a header into the net to send the local supporters into an early frenzy.

The lead was short-lived. Visakha, demonstrating swift offensive execution, leveled the score just eight minutes later. Substitute Lim Pisoth, who would prove instrumental after entering the match, found the net with a right-footed finish in the 27th minute.

Before Preah Khan Reach could regroup, Visakha struck again. Another substitute, Park Jungbin, completed the quick turnaround by scoring a left-footed goal merely three minutes after the equalizer, making it 2-1 in the 30th minute. Lim Pisoth was credited with the assist on the go-ahead goal.

The frantic three-goal sequence in 11 minutes ultimately decided the contest. The second half saw neither side able to alter the scoreline, though it featured a series of cautions. The physical match produced five yellow cards, with Visakha’s Min Ratanak receiving the first in the 7th minute. Teammate Takashi Odawara was booked in the 49th minute, followed by Preah Khan Reach’s Ouk Sovann in the 53rd and Faris Hammouti in the 55th. Lim Pisoth, after his key offensive contribution, was shown a yellow card in the third minute of second-half stoppage time.

The result gives Visakha an immediate boost in the young C-League season, starting with a 1-0 record. Preah Khan Reach Svay Rieng FC begins its season 0-1. The records also apply to both teams’ overall competitive ledgers for the new year.

Key performances off the bench defined the match for Visakha. Lim Pisoth led all players with a goal and an assist in his substitute appearance, directly influencing both of his team’s scores. Fellow substitute Park Jungbin provided the decisive game-winning goal. For Preah Khan Reach, Saret Krya’s early goal from his defensive position stood as the team’s highlight, with assists credited to Faris Hammouti and Ouk Sovann on the play. Midfielders Takashi Odawara of Visakha and Min Ratanak of Preah Khan Reach also recorded assists in the fast-paced encounter.