Soccer-Baker's debut hat-trick earns Indonesia opening win in ASEAN Championship


July 27 (Reuters) - Indonesia ⁠cruised to a 5-1 win over Cambodia in the country's opener ⁠in Group A of the ASEAN Championship in Bogor on Monday ‌with teenage striker Mitch Baker scoring a hat-trick on his international debut.

The Australia-born forward, who qualifies to play for Indonesia through his mother and gained citizenship just before the tournament, scored ​three times in the opening 56 minutes as ⁠John Herdman's side completed a ⁠comfortable win.

"I can't put into words what I'm feeling," said Baker. "I'm so happy ⁠for ‌the team, for my family and for Indonesia. This has been a long time coming. I'm really proud. It's exceeded my expectations."

The ⁠19-year-old put Indonesia in front with a towering header ​in the sixth minute ‌when he met Thom Haye's centre from the right before finishing ⁠off a flowing ​move 10 minutes later for his second, side-footing home Eliano Reijnders' low cross.

Sandy Walsh nodded in Indonesia's third in the 24th minute and, while goalkeeper Nadeo Argawinata palmed ⁠Chea Sokmeng's cross over his own line ​to give Cambodia a lifeline three minutes into the second half, the home side were untroubled.

Baker combined with Haye again to complete his hat-trick in the 56th ⁠minute, scoring with another header that he placed beyond the reach of goalkeeper Hul Kimhuy.

Jens Raven rolled in Indonesia's fifth with four minutes remaining.

The win puts Indonesia level on three points with defending champions Vietnam in the group ​standings with both nations having played once.

The pair trail ⁠Singapore by three points after the four-times winners notched up a second win ​with a 2-1 victory over Timor-Leste.

Ilhan Fandi's header ‌gave Gavin Lee's side a 41st minute ​lead and Song Ui-young doubled the home team's advantage 11 minutes into the second half.

(Reporting by Michael Church, editing by Pritha Sarkar)

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