Army hit six

Army sub Phlong Chanthou registered the 1st hat-trick of the new season

The opening game of the two Metfone C-League matches played on Wednesday was way too 1-sided to be enjoyed as a spectacle, though a 2nd half hat-trick by Phlong Chanthou certainly livened matters up after the Army had led by just the one-goal at the half-time interval. In truth, the Rithysen defence was so appalling that five-nil at the break would've been more worthy of their dominance but woeful finishing was to blame for the solitary goal, scored by skipper Thong Udom from the penalty spot a minute before the break, after Chhin Chhoeurn had his ankle clipped. Miss of the day must go to Touch Sokheng who managed to fluff the easiest of chances from three yards out and in front of an open goal. He rightly held his head in his hands after such a diabolical miss. After Chanthou's introduction up front at the interval, the Army began the 2nd half with even more purpose. It took him just three minutes to get off the mark, finishing off a cross by Phuong Soksana, and he was on target again, on 69 minutes when he headed in Chhoeurn's perfect bye-line center. Eight minutes from time, with Rithysen a spent force, Soeung Chan Vanno fired in his debut goal after coming on as a sub, whilst Chanthou flung himself at a Chhoeurn chip to head in a deserved hat-trick with two minutes left on the clock. Thong Udom rounded off the day to make it 6-0, a minute into added time, when he headed in a near post corner unopposed. It was no more than the Army deserved for stepping up a gear in the 2nd half. It was good to see Oum Kumpheak back in the Army fold after illness curtailed his campaign last season. To add to their woes, Rithysen now have a Sunday game against Phnom Penh Crown to look forward to.

The successful Army team who kicked-off their season in winning fashion

Back to the drawing board for Rithysen after their C-League debut ended in disaster