Cambodia’s Preah Khan Reach Svay Rieng will open the gates of Morodok Techo National Stadium to compete for three points against the Malaysian giants Johor Darul Ta’zim FC in the Group B qualifiers of the ASEAN Club Championship Shopee Cup 2025/2026 at 7 pm tonight.
The meeting between the two teams has become a crucial match, as Johor FC desperately need three points to improve their chances of reaching the knockout stage. They currently top Group B after defeating Singapore’s Lion City Sailors 3–1 and Thailand’s Bangkok United 4–0 in their two previous home matches.
Johor head coach Xiscon Munoz is not underestimating Svay Rieng. He sees that the Cambodian side has been performing well and has many good players, making this potentially a tense match for his team.
Still, he remained confident in his squad and their prepared strategy. The entire team is focused on securing the three points to strengthen their chance of advancing to the finals.
“This is an important match for Johor to confirm that we can move forward. It is also a match representing Malaysia and the Malaysian people,” he told a Wednesday press conference.
Munoz added that he has analysed Svay Rieng’s playing style and the game plan had been carefully prepared.
“I trust the capability of my players and the strategy we have arranged to seek victory,” he said.
Svay Rieng are in even more urgent need of a win. Even though they currently sit second in the group with three points — after beating Myanmar’s Shan United 3–0 but losing to Vietnam’s Nam Dinh 2–1—they still elimination if they fail to defeat Johor tonight.
Head coach Matthew McConkey knows very well that his team is up against one of ASEAN’s strongest clubs, one that has won the Malaysian Super League for 11 consecutive seasons and numerous other trophies, and that boasts several high-quality players with European experience.
“Johor is a very strong team, and it is difficult for us to predict their first 11 because they have so many quality players. Even though they have a packed schedule, they still have many players to rotate,” he told the press conference.
Nevertheless, he confirmed that Svay Rieng have no injuries, and everyone is fully prepared. He also shared that he had discussed with several people whether the team should drop deep and defend before counterattacking.
“This is not the approach we should take. What’s important is that we play according to our own game plan. Whether we win, draw or lose, we must get something out of this match,” he said.
“We will maintain our playing style — we want to control the game when we have the ball. We hope our supporters will come in large numbers to cheer us on, and after the match, we hope they will be proud of our performance,” he added.
Svay Rieng’s Japanese midfielder Odawara Takashi acknowledged Johor’s strong quality, but he does not believe his team will lose tonight’s important game.
“Even though they have players with European experience, after watching their recent games, we don’t feel there is anything to fear. We have nothing to lose. Our team spirit is very strong, and we are confident heading into this match,” he told the media.
