Hav Soknet Gives Cambodia the Home Victory Their Campaign Needed

Cambodia’s path to the semifinals had already narrowed to almost nothing, but the home crowd in Phnom Penh still wanted evidence that this young team could turn promise into a result.

Hav Soknet supplied it.

The 22-year-old forward scored twice as Cambodia defeated Timor-Leste 3-0 at Morodok Techo National Stadium on Monday, August 3, earning their first points of the ASEAN Hyundai Cup 2026.

Mon Rado completed the victory with a 90th-minute header, while goalkeeper Hul Kimhuy protected the clean sheet with several timely saves. Cambodia finally found the balance that had escaped them during earlier defeats against Singapore and Indonesia.

TL;DR

• Cambodia defeated Timor-Leste 3-0 for their first Group A victory.
• Hav Soknet scored in the 16th and 63rd minutes.
• Substitute Mon Rado headed home the third goal in the 90th minute.
• Alisher Mirzaev influenced both of Soknet’s goals with his passing from midfield.
• Hul Kimhuy made important saves to preserve Cambodia’s clean sheet.
• Timor-Leste ended their group campaign with four defeats and no goals scored.

Cambodia vs. Timor-Leste Match Information

Detail	Information
Match	Cambodia vs. Timor-Leste
Competition	ASEAN Hyundai Cup 2026, Group A
Result	Cambodia 3-0 Timor-Leste
Venue	Morodok Techo National Stadium, Phnom Penh
Date	Monday, August 3, 2026
Goalscorers	Hav Soknet 16’, 63’; Mon Rado 90’
Top performer	Hav Soknet, two goals and Hyundai Player of the Match
Cambodia standouts	Hav Soknet, Alisher Mirzaev, Hul Kimhuy, Phat Sokha
Turning point	Soknet’s opening header after Timor-Leste threatened early
Cards	No Red Cards
Next match	Vietnam vs. Cambodia, Friday, August 7
Group impact	Cambodia earned their first points; Timor-Leste completed the group stage without a point

Hul Kimhuy Prevents an Early Cambodia Setback

Timor-Leste created the first major chance after six minutes.

Olagar Xavier advanced down the right and delivered a well-placed cross toward Zion Cruz. The forward met it first time from approximately 10 yards, forcing Hul Kimhuy to dive sharply to his left.

That save mattered. Cambodia had conceded early during its damaging 5-1 defeat against Indonesia, and another nervous start could have pulled the home crowd and Koji Gyotoku’s players into an uncomfortable evening.

Kimhuy’s intervention gave Cambodia time to settle. The hosts began controlling possession through Alisher Mirzaev, who moved the ball quickly and looked for runners attacking Timor-Leste’s defensive channels.

Hav Soknet Turns Cambodia’s Control Into Goals

Cambodia broke through in the 16th minute with a move that exposed the visitors’ difficulty defending wide areas.

Mirzaev switched play toward Phat Sokha, who raced to the left byline and delivered a looping cross into the six-yard box. Soknet rose above the defense and directed a downward header past Dylan Niski.

The goal rewarded Cambodia’s willingness to stretch the field. Instead of crowding the central area, Gyotoku’s side used both flanks and forced Timor-Leste’s back line to defend while moving toward its own goal.

Soknet struck again in the 63rd minute.

Mirzaev initiated the attack with another accurate pass from deep, releasing substitute Mon Vanda through the left channel. Vanda reached the ball and cut it back toward Soknet, who finished first time.

The second goal showed a different part of Soknet’s game. His opener required timing and strength in the air. The next demanded movement, awareness, and a clean finish before the defense could recover.

Those two moments earned Soknet the official Hyundai Player of the Match award, confirmed in the ASEAN United FC match report.

Cambodia’s Midfield Finally Found Its Rhythm

Mirzaev provided the technical foundation for Cambodia’s best performance of the tournament.

He did not receive a formal assist for every decisive action, but his passing opened the routes that produced both Soknet goals. He repeatedly looked beyond the nearest option, switching the point of attack and finding teammates before Timor-Leste could reset.

Phat Sokha and Mon Vanda also gave Cambodia effective width. Their movement forced Timor-Leste’s defenders to leave the compact central positions they preferred.

The performance represented a clear improvement from Cambodia’s opening losses. Singapore had punished them late on the tournament’s first day, a result covered in The Sports Encounter’s ASEAN Championship opening-day report. Indonesia then exposed Cambodia’s defensive spacing with five goals in Bogor.

Against Timor-Leste, Cambodia controlled the vulnerable moments better. Kimhuy handled the chances that reached him, and the midfield did not allow one missed attack to become an immediate counterattack.

Timor-Leste Created Chances but Still Could Not Score

Timor-Leste’s final tournament numbers make painful reading, but they were not without opportunities in Phnom Penh.

Cruz went close again early in the second half, steering João Rangel’s near-post cross narrowly wide. Alexandro Bahkito later forced Kimhuy into another close-range save when the score remained 2-0.

The finishing problem followed Timor-Leste throughout the competition. They failed to score in four matches while conceding 15 goals.

Their earlier 2-0 loss against Singapore showed greater defensive organization, while their 3-0 defeat to Indonesia remained competitive until the final 17 minutes. The same attacking limitation connected all four games: promising moments rarely became goals.

Mon Rado deepened that disappointment in the 90th minute, meeting Chea Sokmeng’s cross with a running header to complete Cambodia’s victory.

Updated ASEAN Championship Group A Table

Pos.	Team	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
1	Singapore	3	2	1	0	4	1	+3	7
2	Indonesia	2	2	0	0	8	1	+7	6
3	Vietnam	2	1	1	0	7	0	+7	4
4	Cambodia	3	1	0	2	5	7	-2	3
5	Timor-Leste	4	0	0	4	0	15	-15	0

Table updated immediately after Cambodia vs. Timor-Leste and before Indonesia vs. Vietnam.

Can Cambodia Still Reach the Semifinals?

Cambodia’s qualification hopes have effectively ended despite the victory.

Singapore already have seven points. Indonesia and Vietnam were scheduled to meet later on August 3, guaranteeing that at least one of them would also finish that match with seven or more points. Cambodia can reach only six by beating Vietnam in their final fixture.

The final game in Hanoi still carries value. A strong performance against the defending champion would show whether this team can build on its first victory and compete with the region’s established powers.

Timor-Leste are eliminated after completing all four group matches without a point. Their immediate challenge involves finding a reliable attacking structure after going through the tournament without scoring.

Readers can follow the final qualification battles through The Sports Encounter’s soccer news and match analysis and its wider international tournament coverage.

Final Takeaway

Cambodia will leave this match with pride restored, even if the standings offer no realistic semifinal route.

Soknet gave the performance its cutting edge. Mirzaev supplied the vision behind it. Kimhuy made sure Timor-Leste’s best moments did not reopen the contest.

The result arrived too late to rescue Cambodia’s campaign, but it gave Gyotoku’s young side something concrete to carry into Hanoi: a clean sheet, three goals, and evidence that their attacking ideas can work when execution catches up with intent.