Strong showing

PPCFC U-17s, back row, LtoR: Sodavid, Chanpolin, Chanchav, K Chhaya, Senteang, S Samnang. Front: Sakrovy, Piphop, Ponvuthy, Baraing, Sovann - click to enlarge

Result: PPCFC Academy U-17 3 Albirex Niigata 4 (Friendly).
The Crown Academy U-17s put up a strong showing against a full-strength Albirex Niigata squad in this afternoon's friendly game at RSN Stadium. The final score was 4-3 to Albirex but it was a close call as the teams took advantage of four periods of thirty minutes to give their full squads game-time. Crown threatened first but Mat Sakrovy fluffed the opportunity before Albirex took the lead through Kazuki Tatsuta on 9 minutes. Four minutes later Chhuot Senteang was wrestled to the floor for what looked like a penalty, only for a free-kick to be awarded. Kim Chhaya stepped up to blast the ball at goal which Mak Theara couldn't keep out to make it 1-1. ten minutes later Tatsuta netted his second after a neat one-two. Just two minutes into the second period and Ouk Sovann levelled the scores again. A foul on Yeu Muslim and Sovann curled one of his trademark free-kicks inside the near post from twenty yards out. Muslim had a shot blocked before ex-Crown Noeu Sosela raced onto a ball over the top to put Albirex back in front. Both Orn Chanpolin and Muslim came close but both shots were just off-target. In the third period, no goals but Senteang's drive was touched over the top and Mat Noron blasted over when well-placed, while Albirex hit the upright. Four minutes into the final quarter, a weak punch out allowed Albirex to rifle in a shot which Suon Noeut could only deflect into the net with his head. Another Sovann free-kick almost caught out the Albirex keeper who managed to fingertip it over the bar before Crown scored their third with three minutes remaining as Muslim's 25-yard drive was tipped onto the bar and Ly Morslim finished off the rebound from close range.

PPCFC U-17s: Samnang (Soksela 91), Sovann (Chanchav 61), Chhaya (Phearath 31 (Chhaya)), Baraing (V Samnang 61 (Baraing (Sodavid 91))), Chanchav (Noeut 27 (V Samnang 102), Chanpolin (Sovann 91), Sodavid (Sakrovy 61), Piphop (Ponvuthy 91), Ponvuthy (Morslim 61), Sakrovy (Noron 31 (Muslim 91)), Senteang (Muslim 31 (Senteang 61)). Goals: Chhaya (13), Sovann (32), Morslim (117).

The previous afternoon the Academy U-15s defeated Chraing Chamres Youth at RSN Stadium 5-1 in a friendly game, with Mao Piseth scoring 4 (33, 42, 50, 70 mins) and Vuth Sophara 1 (38), and that was after the opposition took a 16th minute lead.

The Cambodia U-17 Youth League begins this Sunday (5 Oct), with all matches at Tonle Bati on Sunday afternoons. There are 4 teams in the league. The PPCFC Academy U-17s games are as follows:
Sun 5 Oct v Bong Paoun 2pm
Sun 12 Oct v Boeung Ket 2pm
Sun 19 Oct v Civil Aviation 2pm
Sun 26 Oct v Bong Paoun 2pm
Sun 2 Nov v Boeung Ket 2pm
Sun 16 Nov v Civil Aviation 2pm.