Visakha Edges Angkor Tiger in C-League Season Opener

SIEM REAP, Cambodia (Interstat) — In a match that defied a conservative statistical projection, Visakha opened its C-League campaign with a narrow 3-2 victory over Angkor Tiger on Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026, at a lively Akihiro Katō Stadium.

The contest, which featured a flurry of late drama, saw Visakha outperform the pregame model from Interstat, which had projected a 2-1 win for the visitors and gave them a 54.3 percent probability of victory. The result immediately separated the two sides in the early league table, with Visakha starting the season with one win and no losses, while Angkor Tiger begins with no wins and one loss. The records apply identically across all competitions.

The match began at a measured pace before exploding to life just past the quarter-hour mark. Visakha midfielder Sokry Sofan, who would prove instrumental, opened the scoring in the 17th minute with a well-placed finish from the right side. Angkor Tiger, playing at home, found a swift response. Substitute Park Jungbin entered the fray and made an immediate impact, leveling the score in the 30th minute with a strike also from the right.

The first half concluded at 1-1, but the intensity carried over after the break. The game’s physical tone was reflected in a pair of yellow cards, shown to Visakha’s Sin Sophanat in the 62nd minute and to goalscorer Sokry Sofan in the 77th.

The deadlock was broken decisively by Visakha in the 81st minute. Midfielder Takuto Yasuoka restored his side’s lead with another right-sided goal, capitalizing on the momentum. The action then culminated in a frantic finale. Deep into second-half stoppage time, Visakha appeared to seal the victory when substitute Tha Kriya rose to powerfully head home a goal in the 90+2 minute, extending the lead to 3-1.

Angkor Tiger, however, refused to capitulate. From the ensuing restart, the home side drove forward and found a consolation goal mere moments later. Substitute Lucas Dias tapped in a close-range effort to pull the score back to 3-2, but the final whistle sounded shortly after, confirming Visakha’s hard-fought triumph.

Key performances defined the outcome. Visakha’s Sokry Sofan was the most influential player on the pitch, directly contributing to two goals with one score and one assist. His late yellow card was the only blemish on an otherwise commanding display. For Angkor Tiger, substitute Park Jungbin provided a crucial first-half equalizer, while Takuto Yasuoka’s second-half strike for Visakha proved to be the eventual winner. The late goals from Tha Kriya and Lucas Dias, both substitutes, underscored the impact of the benches in the contest, with Visakha’s Sin Sophanat also recording an assist after his introduction.

The victory gives Visakha a positive start as they look to build momentum in the C-League, while Angkor Tiger will rue missed opportunities in a match where they kept pace for long periods but ultimately fell short defensively in the closing stages.