The Aussie U/23 team never looked troubled by Cambodia, who were trained in the lead up by their senior national team's head coach and Melbourne Victory star, Keisuke Honda.

A squad peppered with A-League talent shot off the mark on the 21st minute through Aiden O'Neill, before the floodgates opened and Joey Champness, Riley McGree and Brandon Wilson all netted before halftime. 

Pierce Waring added a fifth in the second half, before Champness scored his second to round out a dominant performance.

“It’s a great start to the tournament for us,” Arnold told the media following the match.

“Keisuke Honda has got them playing in a way that they believe that they can be successful and we had to be at our best.”

“We worked extremely hard and the boys for the second [international] game that they have been together in these conditions worked exceptionally well.

“I truly believe that that this about fifty per cent of where we will end up. We have another game in two days [against Chinese Taipei] and then we will be ready for Korea Republic."

Australia can qualify for the 2020 AFC U/23 Championship if they finish first in their group with Cambodia, Chinese Taipei and Korea Republic.

The four best second-placed teams also qualify, while there is further wiggle room should hosts and automatic qualifiers Thailand finish in a qualifying place.

Upcoming Matches | Australia U-23 National Team

Chinese Taipei U-23 v Australia U-23 (2020 AFC U-23 Championship Qualification – Group H)
Date: Sunday, 24 March 2019
Venue: Phnom Penh Olympic Stadium, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Kick-off: 5.00pm (local); 9.00pm (AEDT)

Korea Republic U-23 v Australia U-23 (2020 AFC U-23 Championship Qualification – Group H)
Date: Tuesday, 26 March 2019
Venue: Phnom Penh Olympic Stadium, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Kick-off: 5.00pm (local); 9.00pm (AEDT)