Academy in Hun Sen Cup

2 new kits for the Hun Sen Cup: Academy players LtoR: Baraing, Chhaya, Senteang, Chanvuthy, Sovann, Sodavid, Chanpolin - click to enlarge

The Phnom Penh Crown Academy will take part in the Hun Sen Cup 2015 competition, which begins on 8 January, and will represent Chroy Changvar district in Pool B of the Phnom Penh preliminary round. Of the 8 city teams, 3 will qualify for the knock-out rounds alongwith the regional qualifiers and the 8 best teams in the C-League last term. The Chroy Changvar team will be made up of the Crown Academy U-17 players under head coach Bouy Dary and could conceivably be drawn against the senior Crown team in the later stages if they qualify. The three matches in their pool of 4 teams will be as follows:
Thur 8 Jan v Kirivong - KO:1.30pm at RSN Stadium.
Fri 9 Jan vs Albirex Niigata - KO:1.30pm at PE School
Sun 11 Jan vs Tuol Kork (who will be Svay Rieng 'B') - KO:3.45pm at RSN Stadium.
The Academy youngsters are pictured with their two new playing kits for the cup competition, sponsored by 855Crown.Asia.

Two more victories

PPCFc U-17s, back row, LtoR: Chanpolin, Sodavid, Soksela, Chanchav, Chhaya, Senteang. Front: Noeut, Muslim, Noron, V Samnang, Baraing - click to enlarge

Result: Phnom Penh Crown U-17 Academy 1 BBU 0 (Friendly).
The Crown Academy left it very late, the 3rd minute of time added on, to win this hard-fought friendly match at RSN Stadium this afternoon. The match-winner was Chhuot Senteang with a powerful header from Seut Baraing's corner, as Crown finished the game the stronger of the two teams. The match started slowly with the Academy stepping up their game with Baraing and In Sodavid having shots held by the BBU keeper, before BBU hit the post at the other end with a header. Senteang broke clear only to screw his shot well wide and the game remained scoreless at the break. Senteang was denied by both keeper and goal-post just 40 seconds into the 2nd half and with BBU going close twice, it was Crown who pulled the strings in the last ten minutes. Senteang, free, drove across the face of goal, Orn Chanpolin whacked a 25-yard drive against the cross-bar and Sraing Titchhy's shot was deflected wide by a desperate lunge. Then Senteang sealed the result with his fine header on 93 minutes. PPCFC U-17s vs BBU: Soksela, Noeut, Baraing, V Samnang, Chanchav, Chanpolin, Chhaya, Sodavid (Piphop 64), Noron (Phearath 78), Muslim (Titchhy 56), Senteang. Bookings; Chhaya, Titchhy. Goal: Senteang 90+3.

PPCFC U-15s, back row, LtoR: Chanmony, Chetra, Piseth, Savey, Safy, S Samnang. Front: Kakada, Panha, S David, Pisoth, N David - click to enlarge

Result: Phnom Penh Crown U-15 Academy 7 Roy7 Select 3 (Friendly).
The younger Crown Academy team dominated this match from start to finish and showed their adult opponents no mercy, but will be disappointed to concede three goals. At the other end, Tong Chanmony, moved up to striker, scored on 11 minutes from Sin Kakada's pass and Nop David stroked home a penalty on 24 minutes after San David was upended. Roy7 pulled a goal back but Chanmony was enjoying himself, and scored his second on 27 minutes and then headed his hat-trick on 31 minutes from Sok Panha's pinpoint center. Crown hit the woodwork three times through Mao Piseth and twice by Chanmony before the break. Twelve minutes into the 2nd half, Chanmony netted his 4th with a lob courtesy of Kakada's pas, new face Phom Oay slotted home on 76 minutes after a clearance hit teammate Kie Rina, and Piseth walked in a goal from the half-way line two minutes later. Roy7 scored two more but were well beaten on the day. PPCFC U-15s v Roy7: Samnang (Rafat 46), Panha (Rina 68), Kakada (Samel 68), Safy, Savey (Chetra 79), N David (Sovannaroth 31), S David (N David 73), Pisoth (Davann 46), Chetra (Punlork 46), Piseth, Chanmony (Oay 57). Goals: Chanmony 4 (11, 27, 31, 57), N David (24 pen), Oay (76), Piseth (78). 

Crown's new faces win

PPCFC v Albirex, back row, LtoR: Sokleng, Makara, Pisa, Thierry, Boris, Obadin. Front: Yaneat, Da, Polo, Sokthorn, Usarphea - click to enlarge

Result: Phnom Penh Crown 3 Albirex Niigata 2 (Friendly).
PPCFC coach Sam Schweingruber used this afternoon's practice match at RSN Stadium, to give match-time to eight players on trial, mixed in with some of his regular senior team. The plan got off to a great start when Leng Makara headed home the first goal from close range after 7 minutes, from Odion Obadin's headed pass and Chhom Pisa's deep cross. Just three minutes later, Thourng Da's run and pass set up Sor Polo, a winner of the Division 1A championship with Sihanoukville, and he slotted the ball neatly under the oncoming goalkeeper for number two. Crown kept the Albirex keeper busy with goalbound attempts from Makara and Thierry, while Sim Vutha rattled the home cross-bar with a 25-yard drive. Da cleared from under his bar at the start of the second period before Va Sokthorn broke into the box but was denied by the keeper. In the 17th minute of the second of the 3x30-minute periods, Crown added a third as Pisa linked with Prom Yaneat to set up Sokthorn and he fired in a well-worked goal. There was time for Polo and Makara to both be denied by the Albirex stopper before the visitors pulled a goal back, against the run of play. A poor challenge from behind by Pisa allowed Nov Sosela the opportunity to reduce the arrears from the penalty spot on 56 minutes. Albirex scored a second on 73 minutes, with a snap-shot from the edge of the area but Schweingruber made more changes to tighten up and George Bisan broke clear only to have his shot palmed aside. Orn Chanpolin sent a 25-yarder skidding through a forest of legs and then Bisan will wonder how he didn't score after being put through, with his final touch being toe-poked over the cross-bar by a defender. Crown deserved the victory though made heavy weather of it in the latter stages of the match. Crown's trialists were: Sor Polo, Eung Sokleng, Nhett Run Samnang (all Sihanoukville), goalkeeper San Usarphea, Hour Lavy (both CMAC), Lous Chaly (Battambang), Prom Yaneat (Western U), Lee Jung Bin (South Korea).
PPCFC v Albirex: Usarphea (Soksela 61), Pisa, Da (Sokleng 71), Boris, Obadin (Yaneat 75), Thierry (Lavy 31 (Titchhy 75)), Yaneat (Bisan 51), Makara (Chaly 61), Sokthorn, Sokleng (Jung Bin 31 (Chanpolin 75)), Polo (Samnang 61). Goals: Makara (7), Polo (10), Sokthorn (47). 3x30 minute periods.

No change in the MCL

The Metfone C-League play-offs have been and gone, with the composition of the top division unchanged. The two teams in the 2014 relegation places, Kirivong and Albirex Niigata, will return to the fold after succeeding in the 3-team play-off battle at the FFC's Tonle Bati HQ last week. They were supposed to face the best teams from the Division 1A qualifiers, Sihanoukville and CMAC, but the seaside team pulled out leaving the three-teams to battle it out. Albirex made sure of their place with a 2-0 win over CMAC, after a 1-1 draw with Kirivong in the opening tie. A goal-less draw for Kirivong with CMAC, also saw the Takeo-based team return to the top flight too, so effectively no change.

The Olympic Stadium pitch is now being renovated, courtesy of a $500,000 grant from FIFA and an artificial surface will be laid between now and May. The likelihood is that the start of the C-League in 2015, scheduled for late March, will be played at other stadiums, such as the Army Stadium and the new RSN Stadium, with the Olympic pitch not likely to be ready. The Hun Sen Cup will begin in early January with qualifying matches in the provinces and amongst the Phnom Penh qualifiers, before the top eight teams in last season's C-League are invited to join the qualifying teams in the main competition. The teams in the Phnom Penh preliminary round are Army, Western Uni, Civil Aviation and Chbar Ampov (Creek Victory Sport), Kirivong, Albirex, Tuol Kork (Svay Rieng B) and Chroy Changvar. Games will begin on 8 January with three capital teams joining the province qualifiers in the next round.

Double Academy success

PPCFC U-17s, back row, LtoR: Chanvuthy, Sakrovy, Chanchav, V Samnang, Senteang, Chanpolin. Front: Baraing, Phearath, Muslim, Sodavid, Noron - click to enlarge

Result: Phnom Penh Crown Academy U-17s 5 Svay Rieng B 1 (Friendly).
In this afternoon's RSN Stadium practice match, the Crown Academy took their chances and bossed the match for long periods against their traditional rivals Savy Rieng, who will appear in the Hun Sen Cup under the name of Tuol Kork. Mat Noron got on the scoresheet after 4 minutes with a smart finish from Chhuot Senteang's persistence. Noron then did the dirty work, beating two defenders with his quick feet, to set up Senteang for a measured finish on 21 minutes. SVR hit the post and cross-bar, courtesy of a fingertip Kung Chanvuthy save, before pulling a goal back on 36 minutes. Two quick-fire goals from Yeu Muslim after the break put Crown in command and they took charge until the final whistle. Just 24 seconds into the 2nd half and Muslim slotted home after In Sodavid caused headaches for the defence. On six minutes, Sodavid's run and pass gave Muslim another tap-in goal. SVR had a player dismissed for punching Pov Ponvuthy. On 76 minutes, Senteang broke clear and set up Sodavid, who rolled the ball in to make it a convincing 5-1 success for Crown. PPCFC U-17s: Chanvuthy (Soksela 46), V Samnang (Noeut 46), Phearath (Ponvuthy 46 (Phearath 80)), Baraing, Chanchav (V Samnang 71), Sodavid, Chanpolin, Sakrovy, Muslim, Noron (Chhaya 78), Senteang. Goals: Noron (4), Senteang (21), Muslim 2 (46, 51), Sodavid (76).

PPCFC U-15s line-up, back Row, LtoR: S Samnang, Safy, Savey, Sovannaroth, Chetra. Front: Chanomony, Panha, Piseth, S David, Kakada, N David - click to enlarge

Result: Phnom Penh Crown Academy U-15s 3 FFC Academy 1 (Friendly).
The younger Academy team from Crown again dominated their opponents from the FFC Academy, who will join the Dream Asia U-14 competition in Thailand tomorrow. With positional changes giving Crown a new look at RSN this morning, Tong Chanmony gave them the lead after just 23 seconds,when he neatly clipped home from Pich Sovannaroth's through ball. On 29 minutes Chea Savey poked the ball in after San David crashed a corner against the cross-bar. Kie Rina made it 3-nil on 55 minutes when he pulled the trigger after a lay-back by Mao Piseth. FFC reined a goal back but were never in the game and Rina and Piseth went very close to increasing the 3-1 victory scoreline. PPCFC U-15s: S Samnang (Rafat 71), Panha, Kakada (Chetra 71), Safy (Sovannaroth 71), Savey (Pisoth 71), Piseth, Sovannaroth (Davann 36 (Chanmony 71 (Kakada 88)), Chetra (Samel 36 (S David 94)), N David, S David (Punlork 36 (S Samnang  84)), Chanmony (Rina 36 (Savey 100)). Goals: Chanmony (1), Savey (29), Rina (55). 3x35 minute periods. 

A well-earned reward

The Academy party on the beach at Sihanoukville

The Phnom Penh Crown Academy boys headed for a weekend break to Sihanoukville as a reward for winning the Cambodia Youth League championships at both U-15 and U-17 levels. It's a well-deserved holiday for the 36 players plus coaching staff. They enjoyed fishing, diving into the sea, a boat trip to the islands and a beach BBQ.

The Academy fishing champion, Sin Kakada

The Academy's posing diving award went to Mat Sakrovy

Regulation win

PPCFC U-17s, back row, LtoR: Sakrovy, Chhaya, Chanpolin, Titchhy, Soksela, Sovann. Front: Rozak, Senteang, Noron, V Samnang, Noeut - click to enlarge

Result: Phnom Penh Crown U-17 Academy 3 Chamkarmon 1 (Friendly).
In a match they dominated from the first whistle, the U-17s will wonder how they didn't score a hatful of goals in this match. Mat Noron scored the opener on 27 minutes when he took advantage of a poor pass and fired a shot from the edge of the box inside the near post. The visiting goalkeeper was kept busy though Kim Chhaya should've added a second just before the break, volleying over from a corner. Ten minutes after the break, Pov Ponvuthy was pushed over in the box and Mat Sakrovy slotted home the penalty kick. Chamkarmon pulled a goal back with a header from a corner but that was their only real strike on goal and Yeu Muslim wrapped up the match, volleying in at the near post from Sath Rozak's cross on 72 minutes. PPCFC U-17s: Soksela (Chanvuthy 46), Noeut, Sovann, V Samnang (Phearath 46), Titchhy, Sakrovy (Noron 70), Chanpolin, Chhaya (Muslim 56), Rozak, Senteang (Sodavid 56), Noron (Ponvuthy 46). Goals: Noron (27), Sakrovy (55 pen), Muslim (72).

Crown go out on pens

PPCFC under floodlight, back row, LtoR: Pheng, Srin, Bisan, Obadin, Matnorotin, Yaty. Front: Sothy, Suhana, Da, Borey, Sokumpheak - click to enlarge

Final Result: PPCFC 1 Diamond FC (China) 1 [Diamond won 8-7 on penalties] - (2014 Yunnan-Asean International Tournament).
Phnom Penh Crown were beaten in a penalty shoot-out under floodlights and exited this pre-season tournament in Mangshi City, Yunnan, China. One of China’s best amateur clubs, Diamond held their nerve as penalties decided this Quarter-Final tie, after the teams drew 1-1 at the end of 90 minutes. Sary Matnorotin had given Crown the lead on 38 minutes with their first goal of the competition in Crown’s third match.  The Chinese levelled from an uncleared corner on 51 minutes. Crown had chances to win the game in both halves but didn’t convert them and then fell to sudden-death penalties 8-7 with Borey and Makara having their spot-kicks saved. Line-Up: Yaty, Da, Pheng, Srin, Obadin, Sokumpheak, Sothy, Suhana, Borey, Matnorotin, Bisan. Subs: Ary, Sokheng, Pisa, Boris, Makara, Sokthorn, Pellegrino. Goal: Matnorotin. Penalties scored: Pheng, Obadin, Sokumpheak, Bisan, Srin, Da, Sokthorn.

Another nil-nil

PPCFC in China. Back Row, LtoR: Vanny, Sothy, Sokthorn, Srin, Bisan, Matnorotin, Sam, Pheng, Obadin, Makara, Pisa, Yaty, Sophat. Front Row: Da, Pellegrino, Suhana, Borey, Sokheng, Ary, Sokumpheak, Boris - click to enlarge

Sunday 7 December 2014; Result: Phnom Penh Crown 0 Muangthong United (Thailand) 0 (2014 Yunnan-Asean Int Tournament).

In their second group match of the 2014 Yunnan-Asean International Tournament being held in Mangshi City, Yunnan Province, China, Phnom Penh Crown were held to a second consecutive goal-less draw against Muangthong, one of the better youth teams in Thailand. Head coach Sam Schweingruber commented on their second match in two days:  "The game today (vs Muangthong United U-19s) was very disappointing. The 1st half was okay, we had good possession and created a few chances. Our defence was solid but we didn't have enough going forward, things just didn’t fall our way in the final third of the pitch with miss-control, bad first touches and so on. The 2nd half was pretty boring, we didn’t really get close to scoring despite an okay amount of possession." Crown now meet Diamond FC tomorrow (Monday at 7.30pm), a Chinese amateur team who won the right to join the competition, coming top of a 14-team amateur league, winning most of their matches very easily and have four China League 1 players in their line-up. It promises to be a tough quarter-final tie for Crown. PPCFC v Muangthong: Ary, Pisa, Sokheng (Da 75), Boris, Obadin, Sokumpheak (Makara 53), Suhana (Pellegrino 83), Sothy, Matnorotin, Sokthorn (Srin 66), Bisan (Pheng 70). Subs not used: Yaty, Borey. Bookings: Sokthorn, Srin.

Dominant but no goals

PPCFC v Mengzi: Back row, LTR: Sothy, Srin, Sokthorn, Bisan, Obadin, Yaty. Front Row: Da, Pellegrino, Pheng, Borey, Sokumpheak (capt) - click to enlarge

Result: Phnom Penh Crown 0 Mengzi Wanhao (China) 0 (2014 Yunnan-Asean Int Tournament).
The draw for the Yunnan-Asean International Tournament paired Crown with two teams in their 3-team group. Crown met Mengzi Wanhao, a team from China's League 2, this afternoon in their first tie. Tomorrow they will meet Thailand's Muangthong United U-19s at 4pm.  All 6 teams in the two groups will then move into the quarter-finals, where two winning teams from an amateur competition of 14 teams, will be added. The quarter-final matches will be played on Monday 8 Dec, semi-finals on 9 Dec and the final on 10 Dec. Back to today's game and despite dominating possession for long periods, Crown couldn't convert the many chances they created and had to settle for a point in their group game. The matches are taking place in Mangshi City, Yunnan, SW China and the other three Asean club teams are Muangthong (Thailand), Yadanarbon (Myanmar) and Sabah FA (Malaysia). Crown head coach Sam Schweingruber gave his thoughts on the 0-0 draw with Mengzi Wanhao. "All in all I was happy with the performance but not with the result. We turned our dominance in the second half into good chances but failed to convert them. The opponents frustrated us and the referee didn’t help our attempt to play good football against a physical team. We need to look forward and learn from this, on how to overcome a compact defense and to stay positive in every phase of the game. With only 24 hours to rest it is going to be a chance tomorrow for fresh players to show what they can do on the international stage." The game with Muangthong will kick-off at 4pm in Mangshi City. PPCFC starting XI: Yaty, Da, Pheng, Srin (Pisa 70), Obadin, Sothy (Suhana 73), Sokumpheak, Borey (Matnorotin 78), Sokthorn (Makara 60), Pellegrino, Bisan. Subs not used: Ary, Boris, Sokheng.

Heading for China

Sam Schweingruber with his eyes on China - pic Masayori Ishikawa

The 18-man Phnom Penh Crown first-team squad fly to Kunming and onto Luxi (Mangshi City) in Yunnan Province, southwest China later today. In two days time they will begin their challenge for the 2014 Yunnan-Asean International Tournament, with six teams invited from half a dozen Asean countries and 2 from China. We will let you know the fixtures as soon as the draw is made. Head coach Sam Schweingruber is allowed to take 18 players under the competition rules and has selected the following: Yaty, Ary, Da, Pheng, Srin, Obadin, Boris, Sokheng, Sokumpheak, Suhana, Sothy, Pisa, Sokthorn, Makara, Matnorotin, Borey, Pellegrino, Bisan. Four club officials will travel with the team for the tournament. Amongst those left at home, Bin Thierry and Koen Bosma are not part of the tournament squad.