KUALA LUMPUR: Terengganu's Asean Club Championship (ACC) football campaign got off to a nightmarish start as they went down 3-2 to unfancied Cambodian side Svay Rieng in their Group A opener at the Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin Stadium on Wednesday.
There were high expectation on the Turtles in the inaugural ACC, but they were stunned by two quick goals - from Gabriel Silva's strike in the 12th minute and Pablo Carvalho in the 15th.
The hosts tried to fight back but could not break down Svay Rieng's resolute defending.
Terengganu doubled their efforts in the second half to get back into the game, and managed to reduce the deficit through Manuel Ott in the 55th.
The Turtles continued to press the Blue Saber for the equaliser, but this opened up space for counter-attack, and Min Ratanak restored their two-goal cushion with his 86th minute strike.
Terengganu replied again four minutes later through a Safawi Rasid spotkick after Svay Rieng goalkeeper Vireak Dara brought down a Terengganu player.
There was more drama in the dying minutes of the match after referee Wai Lun awarded another spotkick to Terengganu for a handball by K ouch Dani in the 95th, but he cancelled the decision after a VAR check.
Terengganu will next take on Vietnamese side, Dong A Thanh Hoa, at the Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin Stadium on Sept 25.