Three Phnom Penh goals spoil Cebu's AFC Cup debut

Dynamic Herb Cebu opened their first-ever AFC Cup foray in Group F with a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Cambodian side Phnom Penh Crown Thursday night at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.

PHOTO CREDIT: The AFC Hub

Despite playing away from their home, the Cebu-based club drew on support from the Turkish community watching at the stadium.

It was the visitors who came close early on, with Colombian forward Rafael Andres Nieto even hitting the crossbar and forcing Ace Villanueva into making crucial saves.

Roberto Corsame had perhaps the best chance to score for Cebu in the 32nd minute, his effort from inside the box just wide. Ren Okuda also came close with a free kick 41 minutes in.

But with minutes left at the half, Shintaro Shimizu headed home from close range a cross from Kyaw Soe Moe to put the visitors ahead, 1-0.

The Red Singha doubled their advantage in the 54th minute through Orn Chanpolin's strike outside the box off a layoff from Nieto.

Chima Uzoka came the closest to pulling one back for the Gentle Giants in the 74th minute, with a curling effort saved by Phnom Penh keeper Um Vichet.

Nieto finally got his goal after 83 minutes to seal the result, 3-0 to Phnom Penh Crown.

That result sees Cebu temporarily at the bottom of Group F, with the other group fixture going 3-0 to Australian side Macarthur FC over Shan United of Myanmar.

The Gentle Giants have a Copa Paulino Alcantara quarterfinal match scheduled on September 30, before continuing their maiden AFC Cup campaign against Macarthur at the Campbelltown Sports Stadium on October 5th.