Kitchee Come From Behind to Beat Phnom Penh Crown 2-1 in AFC Champions League Two

Kitchee produced a patient, high-tempo comeback to defeat Phnom Penh Crown FC 2-1 in their AFC Champions League Two group-stage clash at Mong Kok Stadium on Thursday, 5 November 2026. The Hong Kong side conceded early against the run of play but responded through Ruslan Mingazow before Juninho struck the winner after the break, securing a valuable three points on home soil.

Match Overview

Phnom Penh Crown arrived with a compact, counter-attacking plan and briefly stunned the home crowd by taking the lead in the first half. Kitchee controlled most of the possession but initially struggled to turn that dominance into clear chances, with Crown’s midfield blocking central passing lanes and forcing the hosts wide. As the half wore on, Kitchee’s pressure began to tell, and the equaliser arrived just before the interval to change the mood inside the stadium.

The second half was a different story. Kitchee pushed their full-backs higher, quickened the tempo of their passing and pinned Phnom Penh Crown deeper. The decisive goal came midway through the half, and although the Cambodian side threatened on the break and from set pieces late on, Kitchee managed the closing stages with enough composure to protect all three points.

Key Moments

• 17th minute: Phnom Penh Crown took a surprise lead when Lim Pisoth raced onto a through ball and finished low past the advancing goalkeeper.
• 41st minute: Kitchee equalised through Ruslan Mingazow, who curled a composed effort into the far corner after a neat lay-off on the edge of the box.
• 63rd minute: Juninho scored what proved to be the winner, turning in a low cross from the right after Kitchee had recycled possession well around the penalty area.
• 84th minute: The Kitchee goalkeeper made an important save to deny Pov Phearith, who had found space behind the defence on a rare Crown counter.
• 90+2 minutes: Kitchee defended a late corner with concentration and cleared the danger to close out the win.

Tactical Story

Phnom Penh Crown set up in a disciplined mid-block, looking to absorb pressure and spring forward through Lim Pisoth’s pace. That approach worked perfectly for the opening quarter of the match, but it required enormous discipline once Kitchee began switching play from flank to flank. The hosts’ midfield trio gradually found pockets between the lines, and the equaliser came from exactly that kind of patient circulation.

Kitchee’s second-half adjustment was decisive. By pushing the full-backs higher and keeping Juninho closer to the central striker, they created more crossing angles and second-ball opportunities. Crown’s substitutions added energy, but the away side increasingly had to defend deep, and their best late moments came from direct counters rather than sustained possession.

Standout Players

Ruslan Mingazow was central to Kitchee’s response, linking midfield and attack and scoring the equaliser at the most important moment of the first half. Juninho’s movement and finishing proved the difference in the second period, while Kitchee’s goalkeeper delivered the late save that preserved the result. For Phnom Penh Crown, Lim Pisoth was the standout performer, combining intelligent running with a well-taken goal and a willingness to lead the counter-attack even as the game turned against his side.

What the Result Means

The win gives Kitchee a valuable three points in the AFC Champions League Two group standings and strengthens their position ahead of the next matchday. Just as importantly, it shows the squad’s ability to recover from an early setback in a home fixture they were expected to control. Phnom Penh Crown leave with no points but with a performance that underlined their counter-attacking threat; they will need to turn those encouraging spells into points in their remaining group games.