Crown put PKR to the sword

Academy line-up. Back Row LtoR: Baraing, Senteang, S Samnang, Titchhy, Sovann, Chanpolin. Front: Muslim, Chansopheak, T Chhaya, Piphop, Sodavid - click to enlarge

In front of a few hundred spectators at the Olympic Stadium this afternoon, the Phnom Penh Crown Academy put their old foe, Preah Khan Reach, to the sword with a deserved 1-0 victory. Not only did Crown score the only goal of the game against their opponents who were two years older, but Academy keeper Svang Samnang had his easiest match for a long while. He didn't have a shot to save. The sides are always evenly matched when they meet with PKR holding the advantage in previous meetings. But that table was turned in late December when Crown beat them 1-0 on their own RSN turf and with the same result again this afternoon, the advantage has switched to Crown. The game's only goal arrived on 7 minutes and what a goal it was. In Sodavid headed a pass to Seut Baraing in space 35-yards from goal and he let fly with a scorcher of a drive that sailed into the far top corner. Good enough to win any game, and so it proved. Crown held the upper hand throughout the opening 35 minutes. An Ouk Sovann free-kick from distance was fumbled aside by the PKR keeper and Yeu Muslim somehow lobbed an angled shot onto the cross-bar. The final action of the half came as Chhuot Senteang sent a dipping 20-yard half-volley over the top. 1-0 to Crown and in the driving seat. The second half was a closer affair with PKR finding the Crown defence in stubborn mood, and determined not to relinquish their lead. As Crown coach Bouy Dary was forced into half a dozen changes, PKR applied more pressure but still didn't get a clear sight of goal and their attacks petered out against a solid back-line. Even six minutes of injury time didn't help their cause. The Academy hands went aloft at the final whistle, another win over their old foe and though chances were at a premium throughout, the large crowd murmured their approval of Crown's success. A job well done.
PPCFC Academy line-up: S Samnang, Piphop, Baraing (Ponvuthy), Sovann, Titchhy (Neout), Chanpolin (Rozak), T Chhaya (V Samnang), Sodavid, Muslim (Nuron), Chansopheak (Phearath), Senteang.