Balmy effect

The PPCFC squad are pictured before today's training session at RSN Stadium with supplies of Neotica Balm for the relief of muscular aches and pains. Thanks to the Thainakorn Patana Company for their support to PPCFC. In the gym before training begins are Anthony Aymard and George Bisan, putting in some additional hard work on weights. Most of the squad will be heading to Olympic Stadium after training to watch the Cambodia vs Singapore international friendly, to show their support for the national team and their three colleagues in the squad, Thierry, Sokpheng and Soksela.

Torrential rain, a delayed kick-off and even going down to 10-men after a red card didn't stop the Cambodia national team from recording a hard-earned 2-1 victory over visiting Singapore at the National Olympic Stadium in tonight's international friendly match. Chan Vathanaka and Tit Dina scored the goals in the first-half, with PPCFC's Keo Sokpheng in the starting line-up. Bin Thierry and Keo Soksela were unused substitutes. 

National Team beaten

Match Report: PPCFC 3 Cambodia National Team 2 (Friendly).3 headed goals gave PPCFC a victory over the Cambodia NT who are preparing for their friendly with Singapore on Thursday. Crown's foreign contingent were the goalscorers with Kim Hyeon Woo, rising high above everyone else to powerfully head the ball home from Seut Baraing's free-kick, for the first goal on 15 minutes. That was after his compatriot Jang In Yong screwed a good opportunity across the face of goal, while Keo Soksela tipped a powerful Chan Vathanaka drive over the cross-bar at the other end. Three minutes after the home side went ahead, Cambodia were back in it when Tit Dina headed in after Vathanaka and Sos Suhana created the space.
Five minutes into the second half, Cambodia went ahead when Khuon Laboravy took advantage of a miskick and set up Keo Sokpheng for a tap-in against his club team. U-16 NT keeper Svang Samnang saved Laboravy's header at the foot of the post, before George Bisan arrived with perfect timing to power in a header from In Sodavid's corner on 63 minutes, to make it 2-2. Both teams made a number of substitutions before Crown trialist Marwin Guine was denied by Keo Soksela, who had swapped sides at the break. On 76 minutes, Bisan scored his second and Crown's third, finding space in the box to head in Leng Makara's deep cross. In time added on, Samnang protected his team's victory with a crucial save from Laboravy's shot as the home team recorded a 3-2 success.
PPCFC line-up (in red), back row, LtoR: Jang, Aymard, Kim, Makara, Bisan, Boris. Front: Sothy, Chanpolin, Baraing, Soksela, Sodavid.

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."

Thierry's triumph

Bin Thierry's arrival in Cambodia in Oct 2012, with Sam Schweingruber

Bin Thierry will remember today for a very long time, after he scored a wonderful free-kick goal against Macau on his FIFA World Cup debut, as Cambodia drew 1-1 in Macau to progress to the second qualifying round for the first time ever. Cambodia led 3-0 after last week's home leg and progress 4-1 on aggregate. In the next qualifying round they will play eight matches in a group competition. Thierry always said he wanted to represent the country of his parents' birth and his goal and the team's success will give him a lot of satisfaction. FLASHBACK: When Thierry arrived in Cambodia in October 2012 and met with Phnom Penh Crown coach Sam Schweingruber at the airport, his intention was clear, to win the C-League with Crown and to play for his country. He will now have to re-write his football ambitions, having captured the league crown last year, and scored for his country in the World Cup. Well done to Thierry, well done to Va Sokthorn, Sos Suhana and Ngoy Srin, the three other Crown players who all started the match in Macau, and well done to the Cambodia national team on getting through to the second round for the first time.

National team triumph at last

PPCFC vs NT, back row, LtoR: Kochi, S Pisa, Boris, Kim, Makara, Obadin. Front Row: Sothy, Da, Sokheng, Tola, Booysen - click to enlarge

Result: Phnom Penh Crown 1 Cambodia National Team 2 (Friendly).
The Cambodia national team finally broke their hoodoo against Crown and came out on top in this afternoon's friendly match at RSN Stadium, as they prepare for next week's World Cup game against Macau. In previous matches between Crown and the national team it was the club side who held an unbeaten record, until today. With Lee Tae-Hoon's team playing their second match in two days, following a 1-0 win over Naga, he was unable to include Bin Thierry against his own team, after he picked up an ankle injury the day before. Crown coach Sam Schweingruber was missing the injured George Bisan and Momoh Sumaila and gave a starting place in midfield to Sean Pisa, with new arrival from Sierra Leone, Santigie Koroma on the bench. The visitors began brightly with Chan Vathanak blasting over and Odion Obadin denying Khuon Laboravy with a timely block. On 11 minutes Shane Booysen found himself in space but his attempted lob went straight to keeper Um Sereyrath. With three Crown players playing against their own club side, it was Va Sokthorn who posed the most threat and another Obadin block and tackle denied his Khmer-French teammate a clear shot on goal. Japanese goalkeeper Jun Kochi kept out a shot by Chan Vathanaka, before Jeongho Kim challenged Sereyrath for a Thourng Da cross, only for the keeper to gather it at the second attempt. On 25 minutes, Vathanaka went down all-too easily as Kochi came out to gather and the referee pointed to the spot. The Japanese keeper, who has been playing in Thailand for the last few years, made amends with a brilliant dive to his right to push Vathanaka's penalty wide. Booysen was fouled on the edge of the penalty box but his curling free-kick was wide of the far post by a yard. Ngoy Srin found himself in a good position but sent his effort wide before Kim capitalised on a defensive error by Say Piseth and bore down on goal, only to get a shove in the back as he fired over, with the referee turning a blind eye to the obvious infringement.

With five minutes of the first half remaining, the national team broke the deadlock. A wayward backpass by Leng Makara was pounced on by Vathanaka and he had the easy task of rolling it wide of Kochi for the opening goal. Two minutes later, Obadin broke past two defenders into the box and his precise pass was skewed wide of the far poat by Ouk Sothy, when an equaliser looked on the cards. Kochi recovered from a slip to keep out Sokthorn's effort but he was left stranded when Hoy Phallin supplied Vathanaka and his low cross was turned in by Laboravy for their second goal on the stroke of halftime. There was still time for Laboravy to send another good chance wide of the target with only Kochi to beat. At the break, the national team changed all eleven players whilst Crown sent on Koroma for his first taste of the action. The youngster, who played for Sierra Leone's U-20s last year, didn't have to wait long before making an impact. Booysen's chip over the backline created confusion with Sou Yaty and Touch Pancharong colliding, leaving Koroma the easy task of tapping the ball home from a yard with his first touch. A nice way for the teenager to announce his arrival. His pace was causing Pancharong problems though his eagerness saw him caught offside three times in quick succession. Obadin's ball forward was back-headed by Booysen as Yaty collected the ball on the goal-line, and Koroma's tricky wing play set up Makara close-in but his miskick went astray. At the other end, Moung Makara's shot was blocked by Kochi's legs, and Da made a timely tackle on Kouch Sokumpheak as he looked set to get a shot away. An Obadin back-pass fell short and Sary Matnorotin rounded Kochi but his effort struck the upright, with Makara also lobbing a 20-yard effort against the Crown cross-bar. Crown's Makara sent a dipping volley goalwards with the home team's final chance but Yaty dived to his left to keep out the shot at the foot of the post, to deny the team he left a few weeks before. On the balance of play, a win for the national team was just about deserved.
PPCFC vs NT: Kochi (Ary 77), Da, Sokheng (Boran 46), Boris (Titchhy 90), Obadin, Sothy, S Pisa (Chanpolin 46), Makara (Polo 86), Tola (Koroma 46), Booysen, Kim (Yapo 78). Subs not used: Srey, Chhaya, Sovann, C Pisa, Baraing, Charly. MOTM: Kochi. Goal: Koroma (47).

The starting national team XI, included PPCFC's Sokthorn, Srin and Suhana

5 Crown players in NT

The Cambodia NT vs Singapore U-22, courtesy of Masayori Ishikawa. Back row, Udom, Sovan, Thierry, Sovannrithy, Visal, Laboravy. Front: Srin, Sokthorn, Suhana, Chhoeun, Phirum - click to enlarge

The Cambodia National Team won their latest World Cup warm-up friendly match, 3-0 against the Singapore U-22 team at Svay Rieng on Saturday. Not exactly first-class opposition before the double-header World Cup ties with Macau next month, but a suitable confidence booster nonetheless. 4 Phnom Penh Crown players started the match with Bin Thierry, Ngoy Srin, Va Sokthorn and Sos Suhana helping the team to a 3-0 victory, with all three goals scored in the first-half. Prak Mony Udom with two tap-ins and captain Khuon Laboravy netted the goals for Cambodia. Thierry had a big hand in the first goal and Suhana's shot was saved for Udom to tap in the third. Sokthorn was busy throughout the hour he spent on the pitch with 4 attempts on goal. Sary Matnorotin replaced Sokthorn on 62 minutes, Suhana was also replaced and Thierry was subbed on 70 minutes. Crown's Thourng Da was not selected. The starting line-up looks like the one coach Lee Tae-Hoon will stick with, with the Macau matches firmly in mind. There appears to be no starting place for keeper Sou Yaty and a few other notable absentees are Kouch Sokumpheak, Hong Pheng and Chan Vathanaka, though the latter may get a call-up next week.

Crown win, Cambodia don't

Result: Phnom Penh Crown 7 Bayon Wanderers 2 (Friendly).
With six players on national team duty and the Academy playing live on TV in Svay Rieng, the remainder of the Crown senior team met local expat team Bayon Wanderers in a practice match at RSN Stadium on Saturday afternoon. Coach Sam Schweingruber gave playing time to some players who've been training with the team this week, including former Crown utility player Jeongho Kim and ex-Boeung Ket midfielder Momoh Degule Sumaila. Crown came out 7-2 victors with Leng Makara, Odion Obadin, Kim (with his first touch) and Long Boran scoring in the opening half. After the break, Sor Polo, Kim again and Chey Chetra netted with Ouk Sothy missing a penalty.
PPCFC Line-up: Ary (Ursaphea 46), C Pisa (Lavy 46), Sokheng (Chetra 46), Boris (Charly 60), Obadin, Sothy (Apollo 80), S Pisa (Makara 70), Makara (Kim 30), Boran, Momoh, Tola (Polo 46).

Cambodia NT, back row, LtoR: Chanrasmey, Rithy, Thierry, Piseth, Laboravy, Sereyroth. Front: Sovannrithy, Chhoeun, Suhana, Pancharong, Sokthorn - click to enlarge

Six Phnom Penh Crown players were part of the Cambodia National Team that lost 5-2 to South Korean club side Hwaseong FC on Saturday in a friendly at Svay Rieng. Bin Thierry, Sos Suhana and Va Sokthorn played in the opening 45 minutes, with the match all-square at 2-2 at half-time. Sun Sovannrithy and Khuon Laboravy, from a Suhana assist, netted for the national team, with the Korean leveller coming with the last kick of the first-half. In the second period, Sary Matnorotin, Ngoy Srin and Thourng Da were in the line-up as coach Lee Tae-Hoon changed all eleven players, but the game didn't go to plan with Da getting booked and Hwaseong looking dangerous against a young Cambodia line-up, that conceded further goals on the hour and then two more late strikes to a team from Korea's fourth tier of football. Not the result the large crowd were hoping to see from the national team, who have World Cup qualifying games coming up next month.
Postscript: Phnom Penh Crown's goalkeeper Sou Yaty was in the Cambodia national team line-up for the match having a few days earlier left the club to join Boeungket for a substantial fee. Yaty was the MCL Goalkeeper of the Year last season but was one of four players suspended by Crown after their pre-season trip to China. All four players including Kouch Sokumpheak, Khim Borey and Hong Pheng, have now left the club.

Upcoming World Cup qualification

The FIFA World Cup will next be held in Russia in June 2018. It's hard to believe but the qualifying games for the competition will begin in March of this year. That's just two months away. The AFC qualification stages begin much earlier than anyone else. After 10 February Cambodia will know who they must beat, over two legs, to progress. The AFC will be combining in part the qualification for the 2018 World Cup as well as the 2019 Asian Cup. As a result, this will permit the qualification process to last longer than in the past. AFC Qualification will consist of four rounds. The first round will feature the lowest ranked teams, with home-and-away ties to reduce the pool of eligible teams to 40. The first round matches will take place on March 12 and 17, with the draw to be held on February 10, 2015. While the AFC has not come out and said it, the October 2014 FIFA Rankings will likely be used to determine the teams that will compete in the first round and they are likely to be Macau, Cambodia, Chinese Taipei, Mongolia, Brunei, Bhutan. The 2nd round is due to be played in groups, eight groups with five teams, playing home & away from June 2015. We await 10 February with great interest. How the World Cup preparation for the Cambodia national team will impact on the latter stages of the Hun Sen Cup and the prep for the C-League remains to be seen. Taking the best players away from their clubs at such a crucial time for training camps will not sit well with the clubs, though Lee Tae-Hoon, the national coach has indicated his disinterest in the World Cup before (vs Laos in 2011), so maybe he won't even bother.

No success on the road

Cam v Singapore: back row LtoR: Pheng, Samoern, Visal, Srin, Laboravy, Yaty. Front: Udom, Chhoeun, Suhana, Pancharong, Sokumpheak (capt) - click to enlarge

The Cambodia national team, with five Phnom Penh Crown players in the starting line-up - Yaty, Pheng, Srin, Suhana and Sokumpheak (capt) - went down 4-2 in Singapore in tonight's international friendly game. All the goals in the game came in the first-half with Khuon Laboravy scoring both of Cambodia's goals. Singapore opened up the floodgates after 9 minutes before Laboravy levelled on 27 minutes with a header. Within two minutes Singapore were ahead again, only for Laboravy to pull it all-square again when he stole in at the far post. There was no stopping Singapore at that point as they pressed and netted another two before the break, with Laboravy also hitting the post. No-one troubled the scoreboard after the interval though Singapore always held the upper hand and will wonder why they didn't add more. They now go onto the AFF Suzuki Cup to defend the title they won two years ago. Cambodia return home and will now concentrate on their next competition, the SEA Games in June next year. Cambodia XI: Yaty, Pheng (Piseth 41), Samoern, Visal, Pancharong, Srin (Chanrasmey 55), Sokumpheak, Suhana (Makara 74), Udom (Tola 74), Chhoeun, Laboravy (Borey 67). Subs not used: Sophea, Daravorn, Sovan, Phallin. Goals: Laboravy 2 (27, 30).

Defeat on the road

Azkals Phil Younghusband scores the 40th goal of his international football career. Photo - Mark Cristino/Rappler

Not unexpectedly, the Philippines proved too strong for the Cambodia national team in Manila this evening, winning 3-0 with fuel to spare in the tank. The Azkals will be heading for the Suzuki Cup next week and this was their final warm-up in front of their own fans, who would've been happy to see them two goals ahead at the break. Daisuke Sato tried his luck from long range and succeeded on 13 minutes for the home team, who doubled the lead just before the break when Manny Ott cashed in on Sou Yaty's initial block save from Younghusband's drive. Cambodia revived after the break with Khuon Laboravy striking the bar and Sos Suhana doing like-wise late on, but it was the Azkals who had the best chances and Younghusband wrapped it up with his 40th international goal in the first minute of stoppage time as he held off Touch Pancharong. 3-nil was the final scoreline and about right with the FIFA rankings of the teams poised at 129 vs 185, Cambodia will be pleased they didn't repeat their previous meeting drubbing of 8-0. Five Phnom Penh Crown players began tonight's match: Yaty, Sokumpheak (capt), Pheng, Srin and Suhana. Coach Lee Tae-Hoon will now seek something not too dissimilar from a visit to Singapore on Monday evening for the second of Cambodia's on-the-road friendlies.

Cambodia v Phils, back row, LtoR: Udom, Laboravy, Sovan, Piseth, Visal, Yaty. Front: Suhana, Srin, Pheng, Samoeun, Sokumpheak (capt). Pic by Dennis Jerome Acosta/Clutch PlaysPH - click to enlarge

On the road again

Cambodia's national football team are on their travels again. Tonight they meet Philippines in Manila for a friendly match and then hop over to meet Singapore on Monday night. The two games will give the two home teams some match practice time before they take part in the AFF Suzuki Cup later this month. For Cambodia, their failure to qualify for the cup's final stages has left them pretty much in limbo before the country's next serious competition, the SEA Games in June 2015. That's an U-23 tournament but coach Lee Tae-Hoon decided to take his full senior team on this jaunt, hoping no doubt to improve the FIFA world ranking positioning, which in August was at an all-time low of 201. They bounced back to 185 after their first batch of international matches for a long while and matches against superior ranked teams like Philippines and Singapore will help that cause.

Cambodia end on a high note

Cam v Brunei, back row, LtoR: Udom, Sovan, Laboravy, Piseth. Pheng. Yaty. Front: Suhana, Chhoeun, Samoeun, Visal, Sokumpheak (capt) - courtesy of Masayori Ishikawa/CAMPA/Khmer Goal

Result: Brunei 0 Cambodia 1 (AFF Suzuki Cup).
Cambodia ended their AFF Suzuki Cup qualification competition with a 1-0 victory over Brunei in Laos this afternoon, their 2nd win in 4 games, but it was not enough to qualify. Myanmar and Laos go through to the finals, with the Burmese claiming top-spot in a 2-1 decider. Chhin Chhoeun scored the game's only goal on 56 minutes, taking a Prak Mony Udom pass in his stride and sending his finish low inside the near post. Cambodia had other chances with Kouch Sokumpheak and Sos Suhana going close in the first-half. Khuon Laboravy and Chan Vathanaka should've extended the lead but failed in front of goal, and a very poor Brunei team, who left their first-choice keeper and their captain on the bench, nearly snatched a draw late on when they hit the upright. Cambodia deserved their win, with 4 Phnom Penh Crown players starting the game: Sokumpheak, Sou Yaty, Suhana and Hong Pheng. Ngoy Srin missed out through suspension. 
Cambodia starting XI: Yaty, Samoeun (Virak), Pheng, Piseth, Sovan, Visal (Vathanaka), Udom, Sokumpheak, Chhoeun, Suhana (Chanrasmey), Laboravy. Subs not used: Sophea, Sovannrithy, Daravorn, Soksana, Sothearath. Goal: Chhoeun (56).

Cambodia miss out again

Cam v Myanmar, back row, LtoR: Piseth, Vathanaka, Laboravy, Sovannrithy, Pheng. Yaty. Front: Sovan, Samoeun, Srin, Sothearath, Sokumpheak - click to enlarge

Result: Myanmar 1 Cambodia 0 (Aff Suzuki Cup).
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.

Sok-tastic!

Cambodia's starting XI v Timor-Leste, back row, LtoR: Piseth, Sovan, Sovannrithy, Pheng, Laboravy, Yaty. Front: Srin, Suhana, Daravorn, Soksana, Sokumpheak (capt) - courtesy of Masayori Ishikawa/CAMPA/Khmer Goal

Result: Timor-Leste 2 Cambodia 3 (AFF Suzuki Cup Qualifying).
The Cambodia national team found themselves a new poster pin-up boy when Sok Chanrasmey left the substitutes bench with thirty minutes of the game remaining, and turned this AFF Suzuki Cup qualifying match on its head with a hat-trick of goals to earn his team a 3-2 victory, after they trailed by two goals with fifty minutes of the game played. The shock of the round said the TV commentator as Cambodia's national team came back from the dead to beat Timor-Leste in Laos this afternoon. Entering the fray as a replacement for Ngoy Srin, the TriAsia substitute Chanrasmey was on for five minutes before he netted his first on 65 minutes as Prak Mony Udom pulled the ball across the face of goal for an easy tap-in. While Sou Yaty kept his team in the game with a world class save at the one end, Chanrasmey was in space to direct his header into the corner from a Khuon Laboravy cross at the other on 78 minutes. And the Cambodian players were in seventh heaven just four minutes later as Chan Vathanaka lashed a shot against the cross-bar and as it bounced down, Chanrasmey made sure it counted as he headed the ball home. A turnaround of monumental importance to keep Cambodia's qualifying chances alive. There was still time for Laboravy to hit the foot of the post. In truth, whilst the victory was sweet for Cambodia, their opponents visibly wilted as the game wore on, playing their third game in six days and having lost two of their better players, recalled by their Kuwaiti club. The first-half was pretty poor fare by any standard and it was Timor who took a 25th minute lead when a free-kick took a deflection en route, caught Yaty going the wrong way and all he could do was palm it onto the knee of Barbosa who accepted the gift. Six minutes after the break, Timor pulled further in front when Bertoldo found space in the box and finished with a flourish, back-heeling the ball past Yaty. It was the only piece of flair Timor produced, despite a sprinkling of Brazilians in their line-up. Two quick substitutions by Cambodia's Korean coach Lee Tae-Hoon and the new faces combined to open the door for Cambodia's revival, which they took full advantage of.  "We were a bit lucky today as Timor had played two matches straight and it was obvious that they were tired. They were also missing two key players,” said Lee after the match. “We had some defensive problems, so this is something which we need to work on.” Cambodia now meet the favourites to progress, Myanmar on Saturday, hoping to keep their renewed dream alive.
Cam v Timor: Yaty, Pheng, Sovannrithy, Daravorn, Piseth, Sovan, Sokumpheak, Suhana (Udom 54),  Srin (Chanrasmey 60), Soksana (Vathanaka 35), Laboravy. Subs not used: Sophea, Visal, Samoeun, Sothearath, Chhoeun, Virak. Bookings: None. MOTM: Chanrasmey. Goals: Chanrasmey 3 (65, 78, 82).

Opening defeat

Cambodia v Laos, back row, LtoR: Sovan, Laboravy, Vathanaka, Samoeun, Piseth, Yaty. Front: Pheng, Suhana, Visal, Srin, Sokumpheak (capt) - photo by Masayori Ishikawa/Khmer Goal - click to enlarge

Result: Laos 3 Cambodia 2 (AFF Suzuki Cup Qualifying).
Cambodia's Suzuki Cup adventures began with a 3-2 defeat against the hosts Laos in Vientiane, but it was a close-run game in which the visitors showed their battling qualities to drag themselves level after going two goals behind in the second-half. Five Phnom Penh Crown players started the game. The first-half was a close affair which Cambodia just shaded according to the tv pundits but neither team could break their duck and it was goal-less at the break. Both Kouch Sokumpheak and Sos Suhana went close early on, in the opening half. The home team came out at the start of the second half with real purpose, no doubt inspired by coach David Booth's half-time blast, and opened the scoring on 54 minutes when two Cambodian defenders failed to deal with a long ball and Sihavong scored with a well-placed drive. Sou Yaty in the Cambodian goal was in the thick of it, with three good saves but didn't reach a ball delivered into the corridor of uncertainty between the last defender and the keeper, and Khampheng got the merest of touches to claim Laos' second on 70 minutes. To their credit Cambodia responded just three minutes later with a cracking goal from Khuon Laboravy as he bamboozled the Laos defenders and let fly with his trusty left foot. Cambodia's tails were up and just two minutes later, substitute Sok Chanrasmey got his knee to a Laboravy center and eased the ball over the line, despite Laos claims for offside. Game on and a great recovery from the visitors, albeit relying on a long ball strategy for their offensive moves. However, their hopes were dashed just six minutes later when Khampheng took a leaf out of Wayne Rooney's book the night before, and curled a free-kick over the wall and past Yaty's despairing dive, for what turned out to be the game's clincher. Yaty had to make two more saves whilst Laboravy took a tumble in the box but the referee was having none of it. To be honest, he went down too easily. And that was that. Laos just about deserved it on the balance of play, but Cambodia showed they weren't there just to make up the numbers.

After the game, Lee Tae-Hoon, the Korean coach of Cambodia, had this to say. “We missed our chances in the first half and let our guard down early in the second, allowing those two goals which put a lot of pressure on us. It is always very hard when it comes to playing the opening game against the hosts. We have to do better in our next match. There are a lot of things we need to get right.” David Booth, the successful coach of Phnom Penh Crown in 2011, who took over the Laos team just a few weeks ago, said: "We didn’t play well in the first half and we kept giving the ball away but in the second half we were a lot stronger. Maybe the players thought we had done enough when we went two goals up and they lost their concentration and let in two quick goals. They could have easily given a third away at that point but we got the lead back and held on for the win, which was very important for our first game.” Cambodia face Timor-Leste in their next game on Thursday, who will be cock-a-hoop after their 4-2 win over Brunei in the opening game. Murilo de Almeida grabbed a hat-trick to make his mark in the tournament. Timor have six players playing abroad - two are playing in Kuwait, three in Brazil and one in Thailand - with the remainder from the local amateur league. Cambodia will have their work cut out to kickstart their Suzuki Cup hopes into life.
Cambodia NT: Yaty, Pheng, Visal, Piseth, Sovan, Samoeun, Srin (Sothearath), Sokumpheak, Suhana (Chanrasmey), Laboravy, Vathanaka. Subs: Sophea, Udom, Chhoeun, Daravorn, Soksana, Virak, Sovannrithy. Bookings: Sokumpheak, Srin. Goals: Laboravy (73), Chanrasmey (75).

Ex-PPCFC coach David Booth, now with Laos, emerged victorious

Cambodia's Lee Tae-Hoon, ponders his next move at the press conference

Late show for the NT

Cam v CTaipei, Back Row, LtoR: Udom, Sovan, Piseth, Visal, Laboravy, Yaty. Front: Vathanaka, Srin, Pheng, Virak, Sokumpheak (capt) - click to enlarge

Success for the Cambodia national team is rare, so a 2-0 victory on foreign soil, in Taiwan against the Chinese Taipei NT earlier this evening, is cause for a celebration. It was an international friendly against a national team who play as rarely as the Cambodian team do, so it was pretty level-pegging on paper and that's pretty much how it turned out in the game itself. Neither team covered themselves in any glory in the 90 minutes. However, it was in the 4 minutes of stoppage time added on at the end of the game that Cambodia will recall for many moons to come. That's when Chan Vathanaka, a peripheral figure for the ninety, burst into life with two goals to sink the home side, who had switched off and were thinking of their hot showers a mite too early. The victory, just days before the tough task of qualifying for the AFF Suzuki Cup in Laos which starts on Sunday, should lift the players spirits for starters. Cambodia were led out by captain Kouch Sokumpheak, making his return to the stadium where his team, Phnom Penh Crown were robbed of the AFC President's Cup in 2011. It just so happened that the Taiwan Power coach facing him that day is now in charge of the country's national team, so there was a certain element of pay-back extracted for Sokumpheak and four other members of the Cambodia NT, who were involved on that devastating night three years ago. In fact Sokumpheak made a decisive tackle in his own box to snuff out a rare Chinese Taipei attack early on and his Crown teammate Sou Yaty also came to his side's rescue, as he often does. A few minutes before the break, Chen broke into the box and it was Yaty's outstretched hand that turned his shot away for a corner and sent the teams in goalless at the break. The first-half was a non-event, with the home keeper only called on to catch a couple of crosses.

The second half wasn't any better until just after the hour. Hong Pheng, getting his first start for the NT, sent over a cross which Khuon Laboravy volleyed wide of the upright with his shin. Moments later the home side sent an overhead kick against the cross-bar before a flurry of substitutions took the heat out of the game just as it was warming up. With Chhin Chhoeun on for his pace, he got behind the home defence but lost his bearings and allowed the keeper to get in a tackle when a simple dink would've put his side ahead. Yaty had to drop on a late low drive but the game appeared to be heading for a nondescript ending with no goals when Chinese Taipei switched off, allowed Chhoeun to whip over a cross and Vathanaka was lurking at the far post to volley the ball home. Cue delirious celebrations. The stopwatch had just ticked past 90 minutes. Exactly four minutes later, a breakaway presented Vathanaka with a sight of goal and his aim was true for his second and confirmation of a very rare away victory for Cambodia. There were yellow cards a plenty, including Crown's Ngoy Srin and Pheng, but they won't mind one iota. No-one will call the game a classic, both teams found it impossible to string passes together or attack in a coherent fashion, but keeping going until the final whistle is a football basic and that's what Cambodia did in spades this evening. Full credit to them for doing just that.
Cambodia NT: Yaty, Pheng, Visal, Sovan, Piseth (Sovannrithy 74), Srin (Sothearath 73), Sokumpheak, Udom (Chanrasmey 58), Virak (Samoeun 43), Laboravy (Chhoeun 73), Vathanaka. Subs not used: Sophea, Sothy, Daravorn, Soksana,  Bookings: Srin, Sovan, Piseth, Pheng. Goals: Vathanaka (91, 94).

Narrow defeat for Cambodia

Ouk Sothy (blue, 10) in action v Indonesia

After stumbling to a 4-1 defeat in Malaysia at the weekend, the Cambodia national team will feel much better about their showing in the second of their road-trip international friendlies, suffering a single-goal defeat to Indonesia in Surbaya this afternoon. And the game's only goal came from a penalty, conceded by Ros Samoeun, which left the players debating the award with the Malaysian referee, to no avail. Dutch-born Raphael Maitimo converted the spot-kick past Sou Yaty moments before the half-time whistle. Indonesia were wayward with most of their first-half chances though Prak Mony Udom went closest when he sent a shot across the face of the goal on 22 minutes. After the break Suong Virak was thwarted just before the hour, though the home side thought they'd made the game safe in the closing stages only for Christian Gonzales' goal to be ruled out for offside. As you might imagine, coach Lee Tae-Hoon was satisfied with his team's performance despite the defeat; "I think the outcome of the game is quite good. Our players played well. The team is grateful to Indonesia and PSSI, who've given us the opportunity to play today. Indonesia is a level above us, so this game provides us with good lessons." The Indonesia coach Alfred Riedl said the hot weather was a factor and he gave chances to players who hadn't played before; "Cambodia is not a good team but they made it difficult for us." After the reverse they suffered against Malaysia, Lee will be almost ecstatic that his team went down to only a single goal. The squad now return to Phnom Penh for more preparation ahead of their 1-game visit to Taiwan, which will be quickly followed by their AFF Suzuki Cup qualifiers in Laos from 11 October. Four Phnom Penh Crown players started the match with a fifth, Hong Pheng, an unused substitute.
Cambodia v Indonesia: Yaty, Samoeun, Visal, Sovan, Daravorn, Srin (Chanrasmey 67), Sothy (Sothearath 46), Sokumpheak, Udom (Chhoeun 75), Virak (Sovannrithy 62), Soksana (Laboravy 42). Subs not used: Vichet, Piseth, Pheng, Vathanaka.

Cambodia sunk

The Cambodia line-up v Malaysia. Srin is wearing 9, Yaty is 1 and Sokumpheak is 8! Pic by asiana.my

The answer, as most people expected, was that Cambodia couldn't spring a surprise result, going down 4-1 to hosts Malaysia in a rare international friendly match this evening in Selangor. Substitute Sok Chanrasmey scored a consolation goal for Cambodia in a game that went pretty much to plan for the home team, who are in the middle of a series of friendlies before they participate in the AFF Susuki Cup. Cambodia too are hoping for a place in that competition, if they can get through the qualifiers being played next month in Laos. This game against Malaysia and one against Indonesia on 25 September are part of their build-up.
The Star Online had this match report from tonight's game: The Malaysians were quick off the block and forced four corners in quick succession in the opening five minutes. And they did not have to wait long to open the scoring, courtesy of midfielder Joseph Kallang Tie in the eighth minute. The Sarawak skipper dispossessed Cambodian defender Sok Sovan on the edge of the box and slotted home past the outrushing Sou Yaty. Malaysia’s second goal in the 15th minute had a touch of good luck. Striker Abdul Manaf Mamat’s stiff shot was parried by Yaty back into the danger area. The ball ricocheted off the unfortunate Moul Daravorn’s knee and into his own goal. Cambodia coach Lee Tae-Hoon threw the lively striker Sok Chanrasmey into the fray for the second half, and the change invigorated the visitors. Still, it was Malaysia who got their third goal in the 65th minute, with Joseph latching onto a through ball from Bobby Gonzales before applying a cool chipped finish. But there was no stopping Sok Chanrasmey on 80 minutes when he sprung the Malaysian offside trap to score. Substitute Baddrol Bakhtiar restored Malaysia’s three-goal advantage with a powerful strike from outside the box two minutes later, after another defensive error. Crown's Ouk Sothy and Hong Pheng eneterd the fray with ten minutes to go, marking their senior team debuts, alongside Ngoy Srin.
Cambodia NT v Malaysia: Yaty, Srin, Samoeun, Daravorn, Sovan, Sovannrithy, Sokumpheak (capt), Sothearoth, PM Udom, Chhoeun, Soksana.

Can Cambodia spring a surpise?

Cambodia's national team are in Malaysia for a friendly later tonight and if they pull off a shock victory, it could spell the end for the Malaysian head coach Dollah Salleh. He himself admits he's walking on thin ice after losing back-to-back friendlies to Tajikistan (4-1) and Indonesia (2-0) in recent weeks and that a convincing win over Cambodia is expected. For the visitors, a positive result would be an unexpected achievement, as of course Cambodia are preparing for the AFF Suzuki Cup qualifying competition in Laos next month, while Malaysia, as one of the strongest teams in Southeast Asia, will be in the competition proper. There they will meet defending champions and co-hosts Singapore and three-time champions Thailand, alongwith one of the two qualifiers. That could be Cambodia, though most pundits are suggesting its more likely to be Myanmar and hosts Laos that go through from the five-team qualifying pool, that also includes Brunei and Timor-Leste. South Korean coach Lee Tae-Hoon sprang a surprise earlier this week when he announced the 20-man Cambodia squad for the Malaysia game, and a further match against Indonesia on 25 September. Two players he's been supportive of since he took charge of the team in August 2010, Sos Suhana from Phnom Penh Crown and Boeung Ket defender Touch Pancharong have been dropped from the touring party, alongwith Kok Boris and Bin Thierry from Crown and Svay Rieng's keeper Sar Sophea and Hoy Phallin. The word is that the door has not been shut on their inclusion in the Suzuki Cup squad but it doesn't look likely they will make it. The match against Indonesia, led by Alfred Riedl and who've recently beaten Pakistan and Nepal and drawn with Yemen and Qatar in friendly games, whilst Cambodia have been completely absent from international matches for the whole of this year, is a replacement fixture after Lebanon withdrew. Fortunately, Cambodia were in the region. In the third of their Suzuki Cup warm-up matches, all away from home, Cambodia will play Chinese Taipei in Taiwan on 8 October, just a few days before they head to the qualifiers in Vientiane. Despite playing no senior international friendly matches for what seems like an eternity, Cambodia moved up two places in the FIFA world rankings to 199 in the latest table, published two days ago. They were previously at 201 out of a total of 208 countries but it seems the rankings pay scant attention to the fact that this national team has not played a match in anger since they lost 2-0 to Guam in November 2013. Mind-boggling.
The Cambodia NT squad v Malaysia & Indonesia: *Yaty, Vichet, Visal, Sovan, Samoeun, Piseth, *Srin, Daravorn, *Pheng, Sovannrithy, Udom, *Sokumpheak, *Sothy, Virak, Sothearath, Chanrasmey, Vathanaka, Chhoeun, Soksana, Laboravy. * denotes PPCFC players.

Cambodia held

The starting XI for Cambodia v JFL

Seven Phnom Penh Crown players took to the pitch for the Cambodia national team in this afternoon's 2-2 draw with the Japan Football League's touring team in a friendly at Olympic Stadium. Kouch Sokumpheak led the team in the goalless first-half alongside Ngoy Srin and Sos Suhana. Both teams struggled to get out of first gear in the opening 45 minutes in front of a healthily-sized audience, though the touring team, who'd beaten both Laos and Myanmar U-23s 3-0 in recent days, were the crisper passing and moving of the two sides. Starting the second-half for the NT were Kok Boris, Ouk Sothy and Sou Yaty, with Crown's Hong Pheng coming on for Sothy for the final thirteen minutes. Bin Thierry didn't get off the bench. The opening twenty minutes of the second half was all Cambodia. JFL sat back and allowed the home team to dominate and Prak Mony Udom saw his effort tipped over the top. A ball in the face for Sothy made him see stars as his legs buckled and he crumpled to the ground, and it took the NT coach Lee Tae-Hoon running onto the pitch for local referee Thong Chankethya to stop play. Why the referee didn't understand the seriousness of the situation is beyond me - everyone else did. Ten minutes in and a mistake by the JFL keeper and Chhin Chhoeun fired home the opening salvo. Udom and Khuon Laboravy also went close before Sok Chanrasmey got the final touch at close quarters to send the home fans into raptures. Two goals ahead and looking good. But that's where it ended as the visitors took back control in no uncertain terms. Sou Yaty was the busiest man on the pitch for the last 25 minutes. He pulled off a great save but had no chance with a powerful header from Tanaka on 74 minutes. It was a poorly-defended corner in truth. In the last four minutes of the game, Yaty made three reflex saves, getting himself injured in the process as he clattered into the post, and it came as no surprise when JFL equalised three minutes into stoppage time. The leveller came through Suzuki from the edge of the area as Cambodia were slow to close down. So at the end, a disappointing result for the NT against a team put together from Japan's fourth tier of football. That twenty-minute spell was enough to get the fans on their feet but successfully defending a lead must be the priority for the NT to work on ahead of their Suzuki Cup exploits next month. Upcoming away international games in Malaysia and Chinese Taipei lie ahead before they set sail for Laos.