Sunday, April 26, 2015

Crown best Civil Aviation

PPCFC U-15s vs SSCA: Back Row LtoR: N David, Panha, Davann, Safy, Sovannaroth, Samnang. Front: Punlork, Pisoth, Piseth, Rina, Kakada - click to enlarge
Saturday 25 April 2015: Result: Phnom Penh Crown Academy U-15s 2 SSCA U-17s 1 (Friendly).
For a match they controlled from the start, the Academy U-15s had some nervy moments at the end of this friendly at RSN against the older U-17 SSCA (Civil Aviation) side after they were reduced to ten men. Completely dominant in the first-half, Sin Kakada had a free-kick scrambled away, he then blasted over the bar when it looked easier to score and then set up Mao Piseth, whose run and shot down the middle was blocked. Kakada then opened the scoring with a composed finish from Nop David's through ball on 18 minutes. Piseth and Sok Panha with a header were foiled by the visiting keeper before Kie Rina whacked a shot against the cross-bar and then had a weak shot cleared off the goal-line. Kakada and Piseth went close again before another David pass gave Piseth the opportunity to score his team's second on 35 minutes, with a typically neat finish. Kakada had the last chance of a hectic first period when he beat two players but failed to find a strong enough finish. It had been one-way traffic up to this point. With half a dozen substitutions for the home team disrupting the flow of the game, the second period was uneven and with sixteen minutes left on the clock, Piseth saw red for an out-of-character kick on an opponent. He had been on the pitch for a minute after he returned to replace Kakada. SSCA got back into the game from a free-kick, which hit the inside of the upright and crossed the line on 80 minutes. Crown keeper Svang Samnang swapped his gloves and twice went close to scoring late on, though it still needed a good save from his replacement in goal, Choi Laiheang to keep Civil Aviation from equalizing late on.
PPCFC U-15s: Samnang (Laiheang 77), Panha (Samnang 82), Davann (Savey 53), Safy, Sovannaroth, Punlork (Chetra 53), Rina (S David 53), N David (Sok Thearoth 68), Pisoth (Yim Makara 68), Kakada (Piseth 79), Piseth (Chanmony 41). Bookings: Chanmony, Piseth (*red card). Goals: Kakada (18), Piseth (35).

Saturday, April 25, 2015

In-house friendly - 16 goals

PPCFC A, back row, LtoR: Sokthorn, S Pisa, Kim, Bisan, Ary, Boris. Front: Sothy, Boran, Makara, Booysen, Koroma. click to enlarge
With the non-appearance of AEU for today's RSN friendly, Phnom Penh Crown played an internal practice match, which resulted in the first-choice line-up winning 13-3. Getting on the scoresheet were Shane Booysen 3, Santi Koroma 3, George Bisan 2, Va Sokthorn 2, Pov Ponvuthy 2 and Yok Ary. George Bisan switched sides at the break and scored two more for the B-team, to add to one from Rafael Oliveira (pen).
More from the match later.
PPCFC B, back row, LtoR: C Pisa, Sokheng, Charly, Polo, Srey. Front: Da, Piphop, Tola, Phearath, Rozak, Oliveira - click to enlarge

Friday, April 24, 2015

Naga win at RSN

PPCFC U-17s, back row, LtoR: Thomas, Sovann, Soksela, Samnang, Titchhy, Suleiman. Front: Chanpolin, Ponvuthy, Chhaya, Noeut, Baraing - click to enlarge
Result: Phnom Penh Crown Academy U-17s 1 NagaWorld 3 (Friendly).
In this afternoon's practice match at RSN, both sides had chances with Ouk Sovann having Crown's best, before Naga took the lead through Chhim Sambo on 24 minutes when the visitors made the U-17s pay for giving the ball away. Sovann was denied a second time before a Sun Sopanha free-kick somehow found its way into the net on 31 minutes and Naga led two-nil at the break. The Academy brightened up their act after the break and Sovann put in one of his trademark free-kicks only to see it tipped over at the last moment. Naga struck the cross-bar but it was the U-17s who scored next, with 15 minutes remaining as Sok Rithy fouled In Sodavid and Orn Chanpolin netted confidently from the penalty spot. The Academy went in search of an equaliser but Naga wrapped it up when Khim Borey sneaked a header into the far corner with five minutes to go.
Match Report to follow.

Sunday, April 19, 2015

Ten and out

PPCFC U-17s, ack row, LtoR: Chanvuthy, Sakrovy, Thomas, Samnang, Chanchav, Phearath. Front: Muslim, Piphop, Chansopheak, Ponvuthy, Rozak - click to enlarge
Sunday 19 April 2015: Result: Phnom Penh Crown Academy U-17s 10 Next Step (Siem Reap) 1 (Friendly).
It took 45 minutes for the Academy U-17s to shake the lethargy out of their boots, during which time the Siem Reap-based Next Step FC had taken the lead on 24 minutes, in the first of three 30-minute halves. The visiting goalkeeper was kept busy and did well to keep out Crown until a flurry of substitutions kick-started the Academy's intensity and In Sodavid levelled the scores on 47 minutes. More goals followed with Suleiman Samura (49), Ouk Sovann (56) and an Orn Chanpolin penalty (59) making it 4-1 at the second break. Now in a dominant mood, the Academy piled on the pressure in search of more goals and they quickly came. Kim Chhaya forced an own goal (65) and Suleiman scored his second (82). Sovann (85) and Chanpolin (85) netted before Suleiman grabbed his hat-trick on 90 minutes and then struck a fourth four minutes into stoppage time to make it a rout.
Match report to follow.

Tuesday, April 14, 2015

Cambodia's World Cup schedule

The Asian section of the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification 2nd Round draw was made today and placed Cambodia (after their 1st Round success over Macau) in the same group as Japan, Syria, Afghanistan and Singapore. The countries will play home & away games (8 matches each) to determine who will progress to the 3rd Round as well as the Asian Cup.
Cambodia's matches will take place as follows:
11 Jun: Cambodia vs Singapore
16 Jun: Cambodia vs Afghanistan
3 Sep: Japan vs Cambodia
8 Sep: Cambodia vs Syria
13 Oct: Singapore vs Cambodia
12 Nov: Afghanistan vs Cambodia
17 Nov: Cambodia vs Japan
24 Mar 16: Syria vs Cambodia.

Note: It looks like Cambodia will travel to Jordan to play the away game with Syria, as they do not play their 'home' matches in Syria because of the on-going conflict there. And Afghanistan are likely to play their 'home' matches in Tajikistan.

Phnom Penh Crown's influential midfielder Bin Thierry gave his views after he heard the FIFA World Cup draw had paired the Cambodia national team against Japan, Syria, Afghanistan and Singapore in their 2nd Round group. Thierry, who is currently on holiday in Canada, had this to say: "I just woke up and saw the draw and it's a wonderful opportunity for Cambodia, the players and of course, the fans. This will be a fantastic experience. For sure, our group is very hard but we will give our very best in every game. What we will need is for everyone in Cambodia to support and cheer for us in each match. I can't wait for the games to begin."

Friday, April 10, 2015

Best of Cambodia's youth

PPCFC U-17s vs Cambodia U-23s, back row, LtoR: Sovann, Chanpolin, Chhaya. Titchhy, Thomas, Soksela. Front Row: Suleiman, Baraing, Sodavid, Chansopheak, Piphop - click to enlarge
Friday 10 April 2015: Result: Phnom Penh Crown Academy U-17s 1 Cambodia U-23s 1 (Friendly).
A really good work-out for the best of Cambodia's younger players ended in a deserved draw as the Crown U-17s held their more illustrious opponents on the Western artificial grass pitch. The U-23s held the upper hand in the first-half, moving the ball quickly and two last-ditch tackles by Sraing Titchhy and Jason Thomas snuffed out real danger. Seut Baraing cleared a Moung Makara header off the line before a hint of offside clouded the opening goal, as Nob Tola poked in from Phoung Soksana's pass on 35 minutes to put the U-23s ahead. Just before the break Ouk Sovann blasted the U-17s best chance over the cross-bar.
The second-half was a different story with the U-17s looking for an equaliser, but watched in agony as In Sodavid's effort rebounded off the upright. Prak Mony Udom was the U-23s main threat, but he was snuffed out by an excellent display by Thomas, as Crown's attacking play came to the fore. With a little more composure Mat Sakrovy and Chhuot Senteang should've scored when presented with good opportunities. The deserved equaliser came with five minutes to go as Suleiman Samura won yet another tackle in midfield and as U-23 keeper Prak Mony Phirun fumbled his pass, Senteang stole in and walked the ball into an empty net. The U-17s pressed for a winner but both Suleiman and Pov Ponvuthy's efforts were held by Phirun. Game over, and a 1-1 draw.

Full match report to follow.