Action from the Tatung-Khemara match. Photo by: AFC/Stanley Chou

LAHORE: Cambodia's Khemara, a losing semi-finalist and winner of the Fair Play Award in the last edition, atoned for its inability to score in the first match against Chinese Taipei's Tatung by slamming home the quickest goal of the eight-club AFC President's Cup – in only the 15th second – on Sunday night.

It was a long ball threaded from midfield to forward Kouch Sokumpheak who put it beyond the Tatung 's 'keeper Wang Shyh-Kuen.

What is indeed amazing, Khemara held on to this slender lead right up to the end to edge out Tatung for its first win in two outings in this championship.

The win also gave Khemara's prospects of qualifying for the knock-out stage from this group after Dordoi-Dynamo a serious boost. In sharp contrast, Tatung with just one point to show from two encounters are staring at the possibility of elimination from the event.

In the final stages of the game, despite being reduced to 10 men in the field because of a red card to midfielder Fu-Hsiang Chang for a dreadful charge on supine Khemara 'keeper Chanphanin Kong in the 82 nd minute, Tatung made a spirited effort in search of the equaliser but to no avail. Khemara's win could be dubbed as lucky for Tatung definitely had their opportunities to recover from the shock of the early goal – two really good ones in the first half itself, only to be thwarted by the steel frame of the goal.

From a free kick right outside the circle in the 31st minute, Tatung skipper Hui-Kai Tsai’s attempt found the crossbar while midfielder Chun-I Wu in injury time somehow found himself in possession of an exceptionally good ball in front of goal, but his drive found the right pole.

And in the 43rd minute, right full back Jeng-I Chen on a curling pass from the left flank hit the ball wide off the left post.

For their part, Khemara too had other chances – the best of them in the 20th and 44 th minute but winger Veasna Srey and midfielder Narith San failed to convert them into goals.

Khemara went into the second half with their 1-0 lead intact and their endeavour to build on it didn't get the desired result when in the 57th minute Kouch failed to capitalise on Narath's pass while in the 71st minute Veasna Srey botched a pretty decent Kouch pass.

In the 68th and 75th minute Tatung got their opportunities to get back at Khemara through Win-Lun Chuang and Kuei-Pin Lin but Khemara somehow were able to protect their lead.

Khemara coach Kong Peu said his team was lucky enough to emerge victorious. “Two of their shots hit the post during the game. Both the teams missed chances but we were lucky to get an early goal.” “I am happy with the way my players played today. Now, we will concentrate on our final group game against Mahendra Police Club.” Tatung coach Chiang Mu-Tsai said: “After we conceded the goal in the very first minute, the players were under pressure to score and made mistakes.” “We could have won the match if my players had converted those easy chances.”