Phnom Penh Crown 2-1 Kuching City: Late Moses Dyer Header Denies The Cats

MORODOK TECHO NATIONAL STADIUM, CAMBODIA; LARKIN STADIUM, JOHOR BAHRU, 30 SEPTEMBER 2026 —

Kuching City FC’s AFC Champions League Two debut ends in heartbreak as Phnom Penh Crown’s Moses Dyer scores late header to secure 2-1 win in Cambodia

The result marks a setback for Kuching City as they seek to establish themselves in Asian club football, following their promotion to the AFC Champions League Two in 2026. The defeat also underscores the challenges of competing against more established teams in the region, particularly in a tournament where experience and tactical discipline often decide matches.

The match began with a goalless first half, as both teams struggled to break down their opponents. Kuching City goalkeeper Haziq Nadzli made several crucial saves to keep his side in the game, including a late intervention to deny Phnom Penh Crown an early goal. The Cambodian side finally broke the deadlock in the 55th minute when Guytho Mijland delivered a precise cross into the penalty area, allowing Moses Dyer to head home the opener.

The goal forced Kuching City head coach Aidil Sharin Sahak to make tactical adjustments, introducing substitute Ajdin Mujagic to bolster the attack.

Mujagic’s impact was immediate. Within eight minutes of his introduction, he equalized for Kuching City in the 73rd minute, working his way past the Phnom Penh Crown defense before slotting home a low shot past goalkeeper Um Vichet. The equalizer shifted momentum in Kuching City’s favor, with the visitors dominating possession and creating further chances in the final minutes of regulation time.

However, the decisive moment came in stoppage time when Phnom Penh Crown won a corner. Long Phearath delivered the ball into the Kuching City penalty area, where Dyer rose above the defensive wall to power a header past Haziq Nadzli, restoring his side’s lead at 2-1.

For Dyer, the victory was a personal triumph, as his brace secured all three points for Phnom Penh Crown. The Cambodian striker’s clinical finish in the dying moments of the match ensured his team’s first win of the campaign. Despite the defeat, Kuching City displayed resilience, particularly through Mujagic’s goal and their late push for an equalizer. The performance, however, was ultimately not enough to overcome the late setback.

Kuching City will now look to regroup ahead of their next Group H fixture against Hong Kong’s Kitchee SC on 15 October 2026. The match will be played at Larkin Stadium in Johor Bahru, marking the first time the Malaysian side will face a team from one of Asia’s footballing powerhouses. The result against Kitchee SC will be critical in determining Kuching City’s chances of progressing beyond the group stage in their inaugural ACL2 campaign.