AFC Challenge League
Pa Ousman Gai and Dilane Wamba Tafem had given Digger a healthy cushion with Peeter Phanthavong reducing the deficit for Ezra before the Philippines side turned up the tempo in the second half with Baboucarr Touray putting the game beyond the Laos team’s reach.
Pa Ousman Gai caused early problems for Ezra when he tried to force his way into the box in the seventh minute but Phetdavanh Somsanid intervened in the nick of time to thwart the danger.
Digger’s sustained pressure paid off in the 14th minute when Saikou Ceesay set the ball nicely for Gai, who fired a right-footed shot into the top-right corner.
The Philippines side doubled their advantage in the 21st minute after Modou Manneh sent a well-timed through pass for Dilane Wamba Tafem to finish with aplomb from inside the box.
Ezra, however, refused to give up and reduced the deficit just before the half-hour mark when Phoutthasay Khochalern hit the bar from close range, with the ball falling kindly for Koki Narita who nudged it to Peeter Phanthavong to head home.
Digger went close in the first half stoppage time with Ceesay seeing his close-range header saved by Kop Lokphathip, following Baboucarr Touray’s headed pass.
Both sides saw missed opportunities after the restart with Modou Manneh and Dilane Wamba Tafem both failing to find the target for Digger, while Ezra’s Chanthavixay Khounthoumphone angled his shot just over the bar.
Digger kept prodding and were rewarded with their third in the 56th minute after Touray slotted home from inside the box off a rebound, following Dilane Wamba Tafem’s shot from inside the area.
Phanthavong almost turned provider for Ezra in the 67th minute when he delivered the perfect cross into the box off a set-piece situation, only for Anantaza Siphongphan to head straight into the arms of Digger keeper Michael Asong.
Ezra struggled to break down Digger’s defence with Narita failing to trouble Asong with a tame effort from inside the area, while William Kvist and Phanthavong wasted their chances from set-piece situations.
Ezra will be aiming to bounce back when they face Preah Khan Reach Svay Rieng FC of Cambodia on Wednesday with Digger taking on SP Falcons of Mongolia.
