JAKARTA, Dec 17: Bambang Pamungkas scored a hat trick to help Indonesia avoid the embarrassment of defeat by Cambodia in the Tiger Cup on Tuesday.

The co-hosts had to come from behind twice to defeat the Cambodians 4-2 for their first victory of the tournament. Cambodia were down to 10 men for the last seven minutes after Soeur Chanveasna was sent off.

Indonesia went into their match seeking to make amends after being held to a goalless draw in their opening match against Myanmar on Sunday.

Myanmar remained firmly on course for a place in the semifinals with a 6-1 trouncing of the Philippines in an earlier match. Aung Kyaw Moe scored twice.

After just 10 minutes, Cambodian midfielder Ung Kanyanith robbed Aples Gidion Tecuari of the ball on the right flank and fed it to skipper Hok Sochetra who rounded goalkeeper Hendro Kartiko to score.

Cambodia escaped again when Soeur cleared off the line in the 23rd minute but the home team finally got their breakthrough after 35 minutes.

Bambang controlled a cross from the right and laid the ball up for strike partner Zaenal Arif, who crashed it into the net from close range.

Sochetra outpaced and outmuscled Indonesian defender Nuralim before scoring his second of the game.

Bambang continued to be Indonesia’s most potent threat in the second half and almost single-handedly turned the game around for the co-hosts.

He equalised from a corner just after the hour and then made it 3-2 in the 77th when he headed in a cross by Isnan Ali.—Reuters