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KUCHING, 14 September: Phnom Penh Crown will be a real test for Kuching City FC when the two teams face off in the opening game of Group H AFC Champions League Two (ACL Two) 2026/27, this Thursday.
The scheduled meeting at Morodok Techo National Stadium, Phnom Penh was a key performance for the Cats after they emerged as the defending Super League champions last season.
Kuching City were drawn in Group H along with South Korean clubs Gangwon FC, Kitchee SC from Hong Kong and Phnom Penh Crown from Cambodia.
In this regard, the opening match was crucial for Aidil Sharin Sahak's control squad to hunt for a positive result as the first step in their inaugural campaign at the ACL Two group stage.
The Phnom Penh Crown is not an easy-to-see opponent, with their experience on the Asian club scene expected to present a different challenge to The Cats.
However, Kuching City came on with positive momentum after recording a 2-0 win over Sabah FC in Super League action on 5 September before defeating Kelantan Red Warriors 5-1 in the second FA Cup match, three days later and subduing Melaka FC 2-1 (Super League) last Saturday.
The meeting in Phnom Penh will be the best terrain for Kuching City to prove that achievements on the domestic stage can be translated internationally.
In addition to the results, the action also provided an opportunity for The Cats to test their level of play, tactical discipline and mentality in the face of foreign opponents.
After the Phnom Penh Crown, Kuching City is scheduled to face Kitchee on 15 October, followed by two meetings with Gangwon FC on 29 October and 5 November respectively.
The Cats then faced the Phnom Penh Crown once again on 26 November before closing their Group H campaign against Kitchee on 3 December.
With the mission of bringing Sarawak's name to the Asian stage, the first match in Phnom Penh was an opportunity for Kuching City to create an initial statement that they were not just participants, but capable of competing in ACL Two.-TVS
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