Crown coast

PPCFC v Western Uni. Back Row LtoR: Njoku, Rady, Dara, Obadin, Frimpong, Tiny. Front: Suhana, Sovanna, Chaya, Seiha, Borey

Phnom Penh Crown were expected to win with an avalanche of goals this afternoon, as they faced the Metfone C-League's bottom club, Western University in the late kick-off at Olympic Stadium. The expected glut of goals looked probable with Crown leading 3-nil within thirty minutes of the start, but the goal-feast failed to materialize and a 5-0 victory at the final whistle is the minimum that Crown supporters will be happy with. Inside the first ten minutes, chances came and went for Crown as Chan Chaya and Kingsley Njoku fluffed good openings and when Njoku did smack the ball into the net, he was flagged offside after Emmanuel Frimpong's deflected free-kick came back off the goalkeeper. On 16 minutes, a Njoku effort did finally count, as he fired his drive across Western keeper Ngoy Boranoch and into the far corner after good approach play from Pheak Rady, Sos Suhahan and Chaya. Crown made it two just four minutes later as Western failed to deal with a free-kick into their area and University defender Chan Vannak mis-cued his clearance straight to Khim Borey, who simply couldn't miss from six yards out. A minute before the half-hour and captain for the day, Tieng Tiny moved upfield, took a pass from Njoku and showed his strikers how to finish with a neat low drive into the far corner for goal number three. As the first-half came to a close, Crown's Odion Obadin headed powerfully over the bar from close-in and Chhun Sovanna sent a 25-yard drive inches wide.

Two headed attempts by Khim Borey at the start of the 2nd half signalled a similar story to the first period, with Crown well on top but lacking that bit of quality in the final third. Sos Suhana should've done better when he played a one-two with Borey and with only the keeper to beat, blasted his shot over the cross-bar. Njoku raced away but sent his drive the wrong side of the post as Crown made two substitutions just before the hour mark. One of the new faces, Hong Pheng then showed the University defence a clean pair of heels and finished with a low drive on 64 minutes to put his team four goals in front. Fellow new arrival Sok Pheng had a drive well held by Boranoch and seconds later ballooned a simple chance miles over the bar. Crown were still on the hunt for goals and got a fifth just three minutes from the end of normal time. Tiny sent a searching ball over the top of the University defence with Suhana racing clear, before playing a one-two with Sok Pheng and finishing with ease, much as he did for the Cambodian U-22s in midweek. Late on Sok Pheng was unlucky to see his drive rebound off the woodwork, and Suhana was denied by Boranoch, while Tiny was on hand to snuff out the danger when Pong Sambo managed to elude Samrith Seiha in the Crown goal. The former Army keeper had a quiet debut for Crown and was a virtual spectator for most of the match. Game over and a 5-0 win for Crown that takes them into fifth spot with sixteen points from 11 matches.
PPCFC line-up v Western:  Seiha, Dara, Rady, Tiny, Obadin, Sovanna, Frimpong (Sothy), Borey, Chaya (S Pheng), Njoku (H Pheng), Suhana. Subs not used: Ary, Srin, Da, Vanthan, Sovan, Lika, Sophanal, Makara. Bookings: Dara.