Phnom Penh: Laos midfielder Phithack Kongmathilath believes a win against Cambodia in the AFF Suzuki Cup on Tuesday would be the perfect present for the country’s fans as the Laotians look to round off their campaign on a high note.

Laos have suffered three successive defeats in Group A, meaning their elimination has been confirmed ahead of the game with Cambodia at Phnom Penh’s Olympic Stadium, but they remain determined to get their first points on the board.

Sundramoorthy’s team have taken the lead against both Malaysia and Myanmar – with Kongmathilath opening the scoring in the 3-1 defeat to the Malaysians – but have been unable to hold on, something that has ultimately cost them dearly.

“We have gained good experience in the tournament so far, but individual mistakes have been the problem in the last two games,” admitted Kongmathilath.

“You can see our counter-attacking play has been good and, as a team, we hope to improve and maintain the good vibe and build on the good aspects of our performances.

“The game against Cambodia will be exciting and, although we are out, it is still very important as it will affect our seeding for the next Suzuki Cup.

“We will do our best to end the tournament with a win. We will leave everything on the field and try to get the result as a present for the Laos fans as they’ve been waiting for a long time.”

After missing their first ever AFF Suzuki Cup in 2016, Laos returned in 2018 under their new coach Sundramoorthy, who was in charge of Singapore in the competition two years ago.

Although the Singaporean has been unable to mastermind a victory so far in the current campaign, his experience has had a positive impact on his new team in the short time he has been at the helm.

“I’m delighted to have him as our coach as he was a renowned striker in his playing days,” added Kongmathilath.

“He has asked me to be more confident and to try and be calmer when on the ball. We have a young group of players so it’s important to learn how to handle the pressure.

“It’s a shame he only had one month to prepare with us – if he came a bit earlier I think we would have had a good chance. He has improved our game and we all know we can talk to him if we have any concerns.”