VISAKHA OPENS SEASON WITH ROAD WIN OVER KIRIVONG SOK SEN

DOUN KAEV, Cambodia (Interstat) — Visakha opened its 2026 C-League campaign with a convincing 3-1 victory over Kirivong Sok Sen on Saturday, overcoming an early red card to secure three points on the road.

Playing at Kirivong Sok Sen Chey Stadium, the visitors validated their status as heavy pregame favorites, despite a second-half dismissal that briefly threatened their momentum. Interstat’s game simulator had projected a 2-1 win for Visakha, and its ELO rating system gave the club a 90.50 percent probability to win.

The match’s decisive performance came from Visakha substitute Leng Nora, who entered the game and provided an immediate spark. After a first half that saw three yellow cards but no goals, Nora broke the deadlock in the 42nd minute, scoring from the left side to give Visakha a 1-0 lead heading into halftime.

The second half continued in a choppy fashion. Visakha midfielder Soch Roththa, already carrying a yellow card from the 67th minute, was sent off with a second booking in the 71st minute, forcing his team to play a man down for the final stretch.

Despite the numerical disadvantage, Visakha doubled its lead in the 77th minute. Once again, it was Leng Nora finding the net from the left side, completing a brace that solidified his impact as a substitute. The assist on the play came from defender Samuel Ofori, his first of two helpers in the match.

Kirivong Sok Sen found a lifeline five minutes later. Defender Ry Leap Pheng scored from the right side in the 82nd minute, cutting the deficit to 2-1 and applying pressure to the short-handed visitors.

Any hope of a comeback was extinguished by a combination of Visakha’s resilience and further Kirivong Sok Sen discipline issues. In the 85th minute, Kirivong Sok Sen’s Satyasagara was shown a straight red card, leveling the playing field at 10 men apiece.

Visakha capitalized almost immediately. Just two minutes later, in the 87th minute, substitute Sin Sophanat sealed the victory with a goal from the right side. Sophanat, who also recorded an assist, had been booked earlier in the match. The final assist came from Ofori, his second of the contest.

The result gives Visakha a winning start to the C-League season, moving its record to 1-0. Across all competitions, Visakha is also 1-0. For Kirivong Sok Sen, the loss marks an 0-1 beginning to both its league campaign and its overall season.

The match was officiated in a firm manner, with a total of three yellow cards and two red cards issued. The early sending off of Visakha’s Roththa provided a test, but the clinical finishing of Leng Nora and a late insurance goal ensured the projected favorites departed with the expected result.