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| Cam v Myanmar, back row, LtoR: Piseth, Vathanaka, Laboravy, Sovannrithy, Pheng. Yaty. Front: Sovan, Samoeun, Srin, Sothearath, Sokumpheak - click to enlarge |
The Cambodia national team lost 1-0 to Myanmar as their AFF Suzuki Cup qualification came to a premature end with one game still to play, in Vientiane, Laos this afternoon. Kyaw Ko Ko slotted home a penalty on 42 minutes as Myanmar went to the top of the five-team table. TV replays were inconclusive as Sok Sovan had his back to the camera when Japanese referee Iida Jumpei adjudged he'd handled a harmless cross into the penalty area. Cambodia huffed and puffed but didn't cause the Myanmar back-line too many problems, though Khuon Laboravy should've done better with a chance early in the second half. Coach Lee Tae-Hoon surprisingly left his super-sub Sok Chanrasmey on the bench until just twenty minutes to go and his introduction failed to inspire his teammates as it did against Timor-Leste. In fact, it needed two more very good saves from Sou Yaty to keep Cambodia in the game towards the end, as Cambodia failed to find a way through and are out of contention for a qualifying spot once again. Four Phnom Penh Crown players started the game; captain Kouch Sokumpheak, Sou Yaty, Hong Pheng and Ngoy Srin, with Sos Suhana an unused sub. With Laos beating Timor-Leste 2-0 in the later game, the two qualifiers have been confirmed as Laos and Myanmar, who go forward to the competition's final stage.
Cambodia v Myanmar: Yaty, Samoeun (Chhoeun 69), Pheng, Piseth, Sovan, Sovannrithy, Srin (Chanrasmey 70), Sokumpheak, Sothearath (Udom 58), Vathanaka, Laboravy. Subs not used: Sophea, Visal, Daravorn, Suhana, Virak, Soksana. Bookings: Srin.
4 comments:
Coach Lee is scared to win. Leaving his match-winner Sok Chanraksmey on the bench proves it. Once again defeat grabbed from the jaws of victory. And Sovann is not good enough for a central-defenders position.
Lee's predictable tournament failure is yet another chapter on a dismal CV. No doubt he will be feted by an inert FFC and a contract extension offered again.
Your headline Andy, 'Cambodia miss out again' is a familiar refrain. When are the overlords at the FFC going to realise that they have backed the wrong coach in Lee Tae Hoon. Yes Cambodia beat Timor Leste, thanks to the heroics of Sok Chanraksmey and Sou Yaty, and Chinese Taipei recently but Cambodia under Lee always lose when it matters most. Something has to give. Lee's overall record is a joke. A FIFA ranking of 199 says it all. Meanwhile, Laos with far fewer resources again rise to the occasion, as they did beating Cambodia in the World Cup qualifying round.
You will get no argument from me to both comments.
Lee's competitive record as head coach of Cambodia over his two spells in charge is as follows:
Record: Pld 37 Won 9 Drew 6 Lost 22 Goals For 48 Agst 79.
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