After the Lord Mayor's show

BBU, sporting their new Kappa kit, ran out 2-nil winners over Chhlam Samuth

Like chalk and cheese. Yesterday we were treated to a bit of everything in the opening two matches of the Metfone C-League season. Today, it was precisely the opposite as both games were turgid affairs that failed to find even a murmur of excitement from the subdued spectators who'd hoped for a continuation of yesterday's intoxicating fare. BBU and Chhlam Samuth began under the 2pm sun and the students always had enough in the bank despite going down to 10-men with twenty-odd minutes to go. They ran down the clock to win 2-0. Western University were making their debut against the Army in the 2nd match-up and ended the day the happier, with a point from a goal-less bore draw. They also lost a player to a red card with twenty minutes remaining.

BBU chose not to start their influential playmaker Chhun Sothearath after his recent return from Brunei with the national team, whilst Chhlam Samuth paraded two new Nigerian signings for this encounter. It was BBU who began the brightest, which is a relative term, as the football wasn't exactly riveting. However, they scored two goals in a four minute spell midway through the first-half that sealed the result in their favour. On 35 minutes, Ouk Sereyratanak bore down on goal and clipped a neat finish inside the far post for the opener. His teammate Pech Sina drifted past two defenders on the edge of the box and unleashed a twenty-yard curler that nestled in the top corner for the highlight of the whole match. Despite losing Phin Pheara to a 2nd yellow card on 68 minutes, BBU were never seriously tested and Chhlam Samuth look to have another long season ahead of them.

Chhlam Samuth performed poorly for their 1st C-League outing of the season

Underdogs Western University will be delirious after holding the Army to a draw

For the 2nd match of the day, Western University marked their C-League debut by fielding three Nigerian imports, who'd played for different clubs last season, whilst the Army (aka National Defense Ministry), who are rapidly making enemies with their involvement in stopping their former players from turning out for other club, were looking to start their season with a statement of intent against the newcomers. As it turned out, though the Army team looked the better equipped, they failed to take a couple of guilt-edged chances and will be kicking themselves for not beating the plucky college team. Western will be extra happy after losing two of their African players in the space of a minute, one through injury, the other for two yellow card tackles that saw Etim Esin take an early bath; an identical situation when the same player made his debut for Rithysen last season. It was the 5th red card of the weekend's matches. So with 20 minutes to go, Western had to hold out for their precious point, which they did. However, apart from the Western fans, the game won't live long in the memory.
Phnom Penh Crown and Preah Khan Reach were the only two teams not to perform in the opening round of matches, as PKR were competing in the 2nd round of the Malaysian FA Cup. They went down 1-0 to Kuala Lumpur's Spa FC and will take no further part in the competition.

The Army, with Arsenal as their role models, looked toothless against Western

The new electronic scoreboard at the Olympic Stadium. It shows the game live for the 1st match on Saturday & Sunday. It's a pity they cannot spell the word Cambodian.