Play-off action

The play-offs to decide the two places in next season's Metfone C-League kicked-off on Saturday afternoon at Olympic Stadium. The league's bottom two clubs from last term, AEU and Senate will play a round-robin competition against the two teams who progressed through the Division1A tournament. TriAsia and Takeo (aka Angkor United). The match-up between AEU and Senate opened the series of games and as expected AEU were a bit too strong for Senate, winning 2-0. Senate even had their keeper dismissed for a lunging tackle fifteen minutes into the 2nd half so the defeat came as no surprise. In the second game, the favourites TriAsia meade heavy weather of it against Angkor United despite an early lead through Sok Chanraksmey, their recent arrival from Svay Rieng. A disallowed goal for Angkor was tough on the team with Kingsley Njoku and In Vichheka in their ranks. Then an unexplained incident blighted Angkor's chances in the match when one of their players limped off and they played with ten men for nearly twenty minutes. There was no obvious reason for it. In that time TriAsia scored a second goal just before the break. The 2nd half began with Angkor still down to ten men, before La Sokri (73) was allowed on, only to be removed again by the match officials, with the suggestion being the number on his jersey wasn't clear. What was clear is that the actions of the officials took its toll on Angkor and as he reappeared, TriAsia netted a third and the game was all over. Angkor effectively rolled over and allowed TriAsia to total seven goals without reply. Chanraksmey netted a hat-trick including a well-executed bicycle kick. The coffee-shop backed club included former PPCFC players Vi Lika and Kouch Dani, two recent Japanese arrivals and Friday Nwakuna. The play-offs continue on Monday and Wednesday of next week.