Ghanaian forward Kwame Peprah stole the show with a brilliant hat trick as Svay Rieng came from behind to beat Phnom Penh 4â1 in their AFC Challenge League quarterfinal first leg.
The hosts struck early through Moses Dyer after just three minutes, but Peprah dragged his side level on 29 minutes, finishing calmly from Ryo Fujii’s pass to make it 1â1 before the break.
Svay Rieng stepped up after half-time and Peprah struck again in the 67th minute, turning the game on its head with a sharp finish to give the visitors a 2â1 lead. Patrick Monteiro added a third from the penalty spot on 75 minutes as Phnom Penh began to crumble.
Peprah then completed his hat trick in the 82nd minute, slotting home after a Tiago Alves assist to cap a dominant second-half display and put Svay Rieng firmly in control of the tie.
The Cambodian side will look to finish the job when they host Phnom Penh in the second leg on Thursday, March 12, again in the AFC Challenge League final stage.
