Tired and well beaten

Kirivong's Felix Ndukwe used his strength and muscle to get two goals yesterday

Wat Phnom have just played three games in seven days and it showed. Despite getting a boost from a goal after just 30 seconds of their game yesterday, they then rolled over and died, letting Kirivong walk all over them, particularly in the 2nd half, to record a comprehensive 6-1 win in the Metfone C-League. Wat Phnom were on a high after beating Khemara in midweek and that continued when skipper Phlong Chanthou rose highest to nod home before most people had taken their seats in the stand. But for Wat Phnom it was downhill after that. On six minutes, In Vichheka stole in to toe-poke the ball under the keeper to equalize and fellow striker Un Sopeak was lying on the deck when he saw his effort trickle over the goal-line for Kirivong's second after twenty minutes. It was one-way traffic after the break with In Vichheka claiming his second, Felix Ndukwe getting a brace and using his strength to good effect, before Sen Komsen wrapped it up with a walk-in sixth. Far too easy for Kirivong. And how referee Khoun Ly managed to book six players is beyond me.

A comprehensive 6-1 win for Kirivong yesterday will please their fans

For Wat Phnom, 3 games in 7 days was simply too much to take

On a plate for Prek Pra

A penalty from Sot Sa Aun effectively sealed Prek Pra's 1st win of the season

I don't like it when referee's decisions, bad ones in my view, have a dramatic outcome on matches, as Yien Kivatanak's did yesterday, during the game between the two Keila's, Prek Pra and Khemara. I don't want to diminish Prek Pra's first win in 7 games, their first Metfone C-League points and their joyous celebrations, but Kivanatak literally handed them their win on a plate. To be honest, this particular referee has had a tough baptism into officiating in the middle. He sent off 4 players in his first game and has a knack of flashing cards of various colours in each game he's in charge. Yesterday it was just five yellows and one red, which is far fewer than normal, but some crucial decisions he made impacted on Khemara, who are down in the dumps anyway and this just added to their woes. Just before the hour mark he deemed a well-timed tackle from Ouk Chheng Hort as a foul and Prek Pra gratefully accepted his gift of the penalty kick to open up a two-goal lead. Within a minute, he added insult to injury for Khemara, when he couldn't wait to flash a straight red card at sub Chhun Kirivatharo for what looked to everyone like a 50-50 challenge with Nigerian full-back Christopher Kingstone. The latter's yelp and rolling around didn't help but I thought it was a poor decision and Kirivatharo confirmed afterwards that his reluctance to leave the field was because he won the ball and the Kingstone clattered into him. With their best bet for a goal or two, Kuoch Sokumpheak, already limping from a 1st-half heel injury, there was no way back for Khemara and Prek Pra scored again to give them a massive lift in this their first season in the C-League. Their joy was unrestrained and their noisy young fans loved every minute of it. And rightfully so, especially after suffering such a tragedy last weekend when their striker Wilson Mene died of a heart attack on the same pitch. Prek Pra's goals came from Sos Souhana, that Sot Sa Aun penalty and You Arafat, four minutes from the end.

Sos Souhana opened the scoring for Prek Pra with the last kick of the 1st half

You Arafat talks about his late goal and his team's 1st win in 7 matches

For Khemara Keila this season is going from bad to worse

Prek Pra will be cock-a-hoop after securing their first win of the campaign

The teams observe a moments silence for Prek Pra's Wilson Mene, who died last week

Saturday's results

Match results for Saturday:
Khemara Keila 0 - 3 Prek Pra Keila - their first win and first league points of the season.
Kirivong Sok Sen Chey 6 - 1 Wat Phnom - Wat Phnom took the lead in thirty seconds of the game starting, only to end up getting hammered.
Full match reports with photos to follow.

Looking ahead

The weekend is coming up fast and whilst Saturday's games don't exactly set the world alight, Sunday's Metfone C-League matches look much more interesting. Game of the weekend is definitely the top of the table meeting between Phnom Penh Crown and the Army. Both have gone off the boil a bit in the last couple of weeks and will be looking to stake a degree of authority over the other by winning the 2.30pm kick-off fixture on Sunday. Who would I put my money on? - I'd have to go for the greater experience of Crown, though my heart says the Army. However, the military management team have a habit of chopping and changing their line-up and that could work against them, in not having a settled side. Surprise package BBU could do it again when they face Preah Khan Reach, who haven't really got going yet this season, though saying that they have netted five goals in each of their last 2 matches. BBU are coming off the back of a draw against Crown and a win over the Army, so they are in confident mood coming into Sunday's game. Saturday's fixtures pitch Prek Pra against Khemara, whilst Wat Phnom will find it hard to overcome Kirivong.

Naga Corp are currently absent from C-League action as they are taking part in the AFC President's Cup in Myanmar. They lost their opening game against Pakistan's KRL (Khan Research Laboratories) side 2-1, with Chin Chum levelling an early opener before they fell to the winner on the half hour. The Sri Lankan team Renown Sports Club proved an easier nut to crack on Wednesday and Teab Vatanak showed he can score against foreign opposition with a neat first half hour hat-trick. Naga won 4-2 with Chhim Sambo rounding it off in the last minute. If they beat Tajikistan's FC Vakhsh in today's game they will qualify for the next round. Ung Chamroeun from the Phnom Penh Post sports team is over in Burma covering the games. Nice gig if you can get it. Eleven clubs are vying for four spots in the tournament proper. The top clubs from each group, Naga are in Group B, and the best runners-up will advance to the competition's finals, which are scheduled to take place in September. This is the third tier of Asian club competitions, with the higher-graded clubs playing in the top tier of the AFC Champions League, followed by the AFC Cup. Clubs from countries such as Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Chinese Taipei and Turkmenistan are also taking part in the President's Cup. Update: Naga went down 3-0 against FC Vakhsh on Friday and are now on their way home.

Midweek madness

Sophal Udom (14) argues the toss with ref Yien Kivatanak earlier in the season. Photo: nicksellsphotography

Unable to get to Wednesday's Metfone C-League game I have to rely on others for the facts. And it seems that the heat got to Khemara striker Sophal Udom, who was so incensed by the referee's decision to award a 2nd half penalty to opponents Wat Phnom, that he ran 50 metres to physically attack him from behind, then scarpered off the pitch smartish, jumped the fence and quickly left the ground. As it tuned out Khemara had a bad day, suffering a serious 3-0 loss against a rejuvenated Wat Phnom side - with goals from Phlong Chanthou, Phoeurn Saorum and Put Savuth - who just days before had lost embarrassingly to Chhma Khmao. Udom is one of the better Khmer strikers in the C-League, he plays the game wholeheartedly but he does moan and groan a lot which gets him into trouble with match officials. But this time, he had only himself to blame and for attacking a referee, he should have the book thrown at him. No excuses.

Press talk

Sunday's C-League match reports were published in today's Phnom Penh Post

My Hem Simay show reports from last week

My match reports from Sunday's Metfone C-League games appeared in today's Phnom Penh Post. Here. I was in Koh Kong when my reports from the previous Sunday's games appeared here, so here's a view of them anyway.

Saturday's events

As I've already mentioned, I wasn't at Saturday's Metfone C-League games, so can't speak from experience but just for completeness; the Army (Ministry of National Defense to be precise) lost top spot with a 2-1 reversal against BBU, which the students deserved by all accounts. First half goals from Chhun Sothearath and Nuth Sinoun gave BBU the lead, which Oum Kumpheak reduced but eventually Army fell to their 1st defeat. In the second match, which saw the collapse of Prek Pra striker Wilson Mene after 25 minutes, Preah Khan Reach beat Prek Pra 5-1 in a game where the result was meaningless for both teams because of the tragic events that unfolded. Ande Apollo, Sam El Nasa and young sub Chan Vathanaka with a hat-trick on his debut, scored for PKR, whilst Sos Souhana netted for Prek Pra, who also lost Ly Souphy to a red card late on. Football was not the winner on this occasion.

Black Cats are lucky cats

Goal hero Pao Phearith, minus his smile, after his strike sealed an historic 1st win

They finally did it. The Black Cats of Chhma Khmao, with their home in Svay Rieng province, and newbies to the Metfone C-League this campaign, pulled off their first win of the season, scoring their first goal and earning their first points, with a 1-nil success against fellow strugglers Wat Phnom. The man with the biggest smile as his team jumped for joy at the final whistle was their skipper Pao Phearith, who led from the front and got the only goal of the game. The relief etched across the faces of his teammates turned to unrestrained joy on the face of Phearith as he went over to shake the hands of all of his opponents. His smile briefly disappeared for my photo before it returned again as he was swept up into the arms of his colleagues. Their victory wasn't a pretty performance but it was a gritty and effective one as the Black Cats snuffed out a toothless Wat Phnom side, coming into the game on the back of two heavy defeats. As for Chhma Khmao, they'd conceded 30 goals in their five previous outings. Their long-awaited goal arrived on the half-hour, with their first real strike on target, and what a strike it was. Pao Phearith picked the ball up twenty yards from goal and unleashed a wicked dipping drive that whistled past Sin Pisal in the Wat Phnom goal for a moment to savour for the goalscorer and his joyous teammates. Wat Phnom sparked briefly after the interval but their finishing was woeful and the Black Cats held on for an historic victory.

The lucky Black Cats of Chhma Khmao came good in their 6th game of the season

It turned out to be a dog's life for Wat Phnom in this bottom of the table clash

Wat Phnom shelter from the scorching sun in the shade of the floodlight pylon during their warm-up

Sokngorn to the rescue

Teenage wonderkid Keo Sokngorn grabbed the only goal of Crown's 1-0 success on Sunday

Often touted as the wonderkid of Cambodian football, Keo Sokngorn confirmed once again how important he is to Phnom Penh Crown's championship ambitions with the only goal of the game against a spirited Kirivong team on Sunday. With both teams reduced to almost walking pace under the red-hot sun and still reeling after Saturday's on-field tragedy, the game was far from being a classic, though Crown's win takes them back to top spot in the Metfone C-League. It was teenager Sokngorn who was the difference and netted the only goal on 38 minutes. He'd already struck the post when he whipped, first-time, a pass from Hong Makara that beat the despairing dive of the Kirivong keeper to nestle in the far corner. A good move and a classy finish from the likeable utility player. Up front for Crown, Prince Justine had a fairly quiet game by his standards whilst Kirivong looked toothless against a less than mobile Crown back-four. With the Army losing to BBU the day before, Crown return to head the league table. The teams and spectators observed a half-minute silence for Wilson Mene before the game began.

Phnom Penh Crown take to the field in another new kit on Sunday

Kirivong line up under the oppressive sun

The two skippers meet before kick off. Kirivong's keeper Keum Makara (18) and Crown's Thul Sothearith.

Damp squib

Sunday's Metfone C-League games failed to lighten the mood at Olympic Stadium after Saturday's loss of life, when Prek Pra striker Wilson Mene collapsed and died during their match with Preah Khan. Everyone was in a fairly sombre mood and the games reflected that. Phnom Penh Crown just about overcame Kirivong but it was far from a classic. Keo Sokngorn grabbed the only goal of the game on 38 minutes. In the 2nd game, Wat Phnom huffed and puffed but had no cutting edge and that allowed Chhma Khmao to take full advantage to register their first goal, their first win and their first points of their debut season in the C-League. The relief was etched over the faces of all of the Black Cats from Svay Rieng province. The biggest smile belonged to their skipper Pao Phearith, who struck a thunderbolt into the top right-hand corner after half an hour that settled the destination of the points. Well done the Black Cats. More on the games later.

Timeline

Concerned teammates peer through the windows of the ambulance as the medics try to revive Wilson Mene. Photo: nicksellsphotography

I've just seen Nick Sells' photographs from yesterday's incident which saw Wilson Mene from Prek Pra Keila collapse on the Olympic Stadium pitch and fail to revive despite the attempts of the medical staff present, both on the pitch and in the military police ambulance. Though Nick's pictures are incredibly powerful, I won't publish any of the deceased player during the incident out of respect. However, Nick's timeline of the incident throws some light on the attempts made to revive Wilson. The medic arrived at Wilson's side within 12 seconds of his collapse and immediately put him into the recovery position and initiated CPR within another 20 seconds. Wilson was stretched to the ambulance within three minutes, where further CPR and oxygen were administered and the ambulance left the pitchside 9 minutes later. I understand Wilson was pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital. A very sad day for football in Cambodia.

The Prek Pra Keila line-up before yesterday's game. Wilson Mene is no 28, far right on the front row. Photo: nicksellsphotography

Dark cloud

Wilson Mene in the colours of Phuchung Neak last season

I wasn't at yesterday's Metfone C-League games as I was in Kampot for a wedding. And whilst I was celebrating in one part of the country, a dark cloud descended over the Olympic Stadium during the Preah Khan versus Prek Pra match. I don't have any clear information yet but the bottom line is a player from Prek Pra, Wilson Mene, died on the pitch. I'll bring you more details as I get them. The last fatalities in Cambodian football were in July 2008 when three players died when struck by lightning.
Update: The details I've garnered are from colleagues who witnessed the collapse of Wilson Mene during yesterday's game at Olympic Stadium. It seems he collapsed with no one near him and attempts to revive him by medical personnel on the pitch and then in the ambulance, which was on the scene very quickly, were unsuccessful. The cause of his death is purely conjecture at this point, though heart attack is the most likely. I believe that his 19th birthday was due later this month. The striker joined Prek Pra Keila this season after spending the latter part of last year's campaign with Phuchung Neak and was previously with Preah Khan Reach.

Teab on top form

He's just scored 4 goals against Chhma Khmao but Naga's Teab Vatanak (10) looks bemused by it all. Photo: http://www.nicksellsphotography.com

I've been absent for a few days and missed Wednesday's Metfone C-League game between Naga Corp and Chhma Khmao. It was a veritable whitewash in Naga's favour, with the current league champions 3-nil ahead at half-time, and running out 6-0 victors at the full-time whistle with Teab Vatanak getting 4 goals and Meas Channa and Joseph Oyewole netting the others. Naga take their good form into the AFC Presidents Cup that's being played in Myanmar next week with three games in five days against league champions from Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Tajikistan. One face that will be missing is defender Om Thavrak, who it appears will be leaving Naga shortly. I'll be absent again on Saturday, a wedding in Kampot is my destination, so I'll miss the BBU versus Army game which could produce some fireworks. Preah Khan should beat Prek Pra in the other game, though I've an inkling that the bottom club might just sneak a draw. I should be back for the Sunday games with PPCrown against Kirivong the pick of the day.

Press talk

Saturday's match reports appeared in today's edition of the Phnom Penh Post. Click here.

Faces in the crowd

Captured amongst the interested spectators is Nov Soseila (in red shirt), the tricky Army wingman out with an injury. Photo: Nick Sells

Nick Sells takes great photos. His action shots from the Metfone C-League games just get better and better and this look, at some of the faces in the crowd at yesterday's matches, make for interesting viewing as well. Nick is a professional photographer working in Phnom Penh and lots of his pictures are used by the Phnom Penh Post for their sports pages and their 7Days weekly edition. Find out more about Nick and his pictures at www.nicksellsphotography.com.

Three young boys keep their eyes on developments at Olympic Stadium. Photo: Nick Sells

You've gotta love the look of anticipation on the faces of these youngsters. Photo: Nick Sells

Prek Pra Keila usually bring a large Cham Muslim contingent of supporters to their games. Photo: Nick Sells

A few pretty faces also find their way into the crowd at C-League matches. Photo: Nick Sells

Army gunning for top dog

The Army's skipper and goalscorer, Khim Borey

Prek Pra Keila had lost their 4 previous games and weren't expected to give the Ministry of National Defense much trouble in Sunday's Metfone C-League game. That said, Prek Pra surprised everyone with a plucky rearguard action that frustrated the attack-minded Army boys and gave as good as they got for much of the match. With Philip Ali playing a blinder in defence and Wilson Mene giving the Army back-four the runaround, they recovered from conceding a 3rd minute goal, scored by Phuong Soksana who had time and space to pick his spot. On 25 minutes Prek Pra were back in it when Philip Ali found himself in space from a corner and headed in the leveller. 2 minutes before half-time the Army hit Prek Pra with a body blow. Khim Borey's 25 yard free-kick seared inside the near post with everyone expecting a cross and MND went in ahead. Substitute Sin Dalin extended that lead on 57 minutes when he headed in a Pheak Rady center with ease. 3 minutes later Prek Pra sniffed a comeback when Wilson Mene headed a free-kick over a flailing Sou Yaty, who made a rare misjudgment of the flight. But another Rady cross was dropped by keeper Yok Ary onto the foot of Suong Virak and he made no mistake on 70 minutes to put Army 4-2 in front. It was all over bar the shouting and the Army rolled into top spot in the league standings.

The Army moved to the top of the table with this 4-2 victory

Prek Pra showed a lot of guts and determination before falling to the league leaders

The Hem Simay show

BBU custodian Hem Simay turned in a man-of-the-match performance

Today's man of the moment turned out to be goalkeeper Hem Simay of Build Bright United, who almost single-handedly kept out Phnom Penh Crown and was only beaten by a goal on the hour that looked yards offside. The 1-1 draw meant Crown would drop to 2nd in the Metfone C-League if Army could win their game. Without the suspended Prince Justine and playmaker Sun Sopanha, they missed both players and despite taking the game to BBU, they couldn't find a way past Hem Simay. In the early moments he turned a shot from Sok Pheng onto the post and then brilliantly tipped aside a great strike from Keo Sokngorn. On 15 minutes BBU caught Crown with their pants down when Prum Putsethy eluded the attentions of Sani Saidu and threaded his shot inside the post to give his team an undeserved lead. The only other event of note in the 1st half was a mini-whirlwind that blew the hoardings down and sent umbrellas tumbling. After the break it was more of the Hem Simay show, with a point-blank double save from Oscar Mpoko and Friday Nwakuna particularly outstanding. However, on the hour he was beaten with a little help from the linesman. Mpoko was put in by Srey Veasna and he finished well though he looked yards offside, and referee Thong Chankethya waved away the BBU appeals. Crown also struck the woodwork through Veasna and substitute Chan Chhaya and without Simay in such great form should've taken all 3 points. They didn't and left the Army with the opportunity to go top.

Phnom Penh Crown were held to a 1-1 draw by BBU and lost top spot in the C-League

The plucky BBU line-up that held out against Phnom Penh Crown to earn a draw

Kirivong turn the tide

Referee Khuon Virak is thinking of booking Khemara's Hou Sambo for impersonating a 100 metre runner. Pic: http://www.nicksellsphotography.com

You know you are in trouble when you stick your reserve centre-half up front as an emergency battering-ram striker. That's what Khemara chose to do with their three strikers all missing through suspension against Kirivong in yesterday afternoon's C-league encounter. The risk failed miserably against a Kirivong team who were still cock-a-hoop after their 8-0 demolition of Chhma Khmao a week ago. The first-half was instantly forgettable and the 2nd half was only marginally better until Kirivong threw on Him Salam and his presence turned the tide in their favour. On 69 minutes his corner was half-cleared to Bryan Edem and his sweetly struck volley sailed into the Khemara net. A minute later Salam weaved his magic on the left wing and another substitute, In Vichheka bent down low to head in Kirivong's second goal and the final nail in Khemara's coffin. To be honest there's not much else to say about this lacklustre affair.

PKR share the goals

PKR's teenage starlet Chea Samnang strikes a shot from 20 yards that sailed into the net on 68 minutes. Pic: http://www.nicksellsphotography.com

Okay, now for the match reports. First of all, back to the first Metfone C-League game from yesterday, with Preah Khan Reach giving youth a go against Wat Phnom and running out 5-1 winners. For an hour Wat Phnom held PKR though the game was far from being a classic until PKR hit their opponents with a 4-goal sledgehammer in the space of eight minutes to settle the result. They began brightly and took a seventh minute lead when Khuon Laboravy swept in a short pass from Ande Apollo after Tum Saray's cross on the run found the new striker in the box. Just after the half hour Srey Vandeth's cross was met by the forehead of Ry Phearoeun and his header arrowed into the far corner for a Wat Phnom equaliser. A minute later they were a whisker away from taking the lead when Vandeth's diving header struck the foot of the post and that was effectively the end of their resistance. On the hour mark PKR began their 4-goal avalanche. Nathan Nwaowu turned the ball over his own goal-line in attempting to clear Sok Chanrasmey's fiercely struck bye-line cross. 2 minutes later stopper Anthony Nzekwest scored his 2nd in as many games with another unstoppable header from a corner. Skipper Sam El Nasa held off two defenders and calmly rolled his shot wide of the goalkeeper for their 4th and then laid on the perfect pass for Chea Samnang to drive the ball home from twenty yards out to seal an emphatic victory. Coach Rith dakar will be pleased that his youngsters stepped up to the plate, while Wat Phnom look destined for another season of struggle. Even referee Tuy Vichheka had a quiet afternoon, only issuing three yellow cards.

Referee Tuy Vichheka asks PKR's Devide Njoku whether he'd like a handkerchief. Pic: http://www.nicksellsphotography.com

Less is more

Keeping his cards in his pocket, nearly, is Thong Chankethya, the man in the middle. Fortunately he has a badge with referee on his shirt to remind him. Pic: http://www.nicksellsphotography.com

Bloody typical. There I go, bemoaning the card waving antics of the referees in the Metfone C-League and identifying the three main culprits and hey presto, two of them are in charge of today's two matches and what do they do, they try their hardest to keep their hands, and cards, in their pockets. Obviously, where Thong Chankethya and Yien Kivatanak are involved, they couldn't get through a game without flashing the cards but they did dramatically reduce their card count, with Chankethya booking just 1 BBU player and Kivatanak limiting himself to just 2 yellows (1 apiece from Prek Pra and the Army). In anyone's book, that's a result. Maybe they have been sneeking a peek at my blog afterall. Less is more guys, keep it up.

In a rush

A youthful Preah Khan Reach line-up that beat Wat Phnom 5-1

I'm in a rush today after a long lie-in, so I'll post the match reports from Saturday's Metfone C-League games later tonight. Suffice to say that the games themselves weren't earth-shattering by any stretch of the imagination, though I did feel a bit sorry for Wat Phnom who looked like getting a point until Preah Khan demolished them with four goals in eight minutes. The second game was a lifeless, barren affair, mainly because Khemara lost all three strikers to suspension prior to kick-off. They were so hard up they put reserve centre-half Suon Makara up front as a battering-ram style striker, though he's such a mouse, that was never going to work. They lost as expected though Kirivong made hard work of it. Just to keep you interested, here's the photos.
Sunday update: Ministry of National Defense moved into top spot in the league table with a hard-fought 4-2 win over Prek Pra Keila, who put up a good fight but found the Army in no mood to give up their chance of sitting top of the Metfone C-League tonight. Their main rivals for top spot, Phnom Penh Crown, were held to a surprise 1-1 draw with BBU, who had keeper Hem Simay to thank for a superlative display on his return after being out injured for well over a year.

Wat Phnom may've changed their name from Spark but they'll still endure a season of struggle

Kirivong's new centre-half Bryan Edem opened the scoring with a volley

Kirivong stand awfully close to the camera before their 2-0 win against Khemara

Khemara looked out of sorts and toothless against Kirivong

Kirivong's tigerish midfield playmaker and skipper Tes Sophat meets the press

Preah Khan romp home

This cheeky chappie is Preah Khan's Chea Samnang, one of their scorers in today's 5-1 win

Preah Khan today romped home to a 5-1 success over a disillusioned Wat Phnom, who've also been tonked 8-1 and 6-0 this season, and look destined to be grubbing around the bottom reaches of the Metfone C-League again this campaign. Last year they had the goals of Prince Justine to keep their heads above water but he's not been replaced and they are struggling. Preah Khan meanwhile put out a young team, resting half a dozen players and still won comfortably, sharing the goals around the team. In the 2nd game a weakened Khemara had no forward-line to speak of and were made to pay by Kirivong, who netted twice in a minute midway through the second half and coasted to a 2-nil win. Sunday sees Phnom Penh Crown and Ministry of National Defense look almost certain to maintain their joint lead at the head of the league standings with victories over BBU and Prek Pra respectively. More on today's games to follow.

Clouds and blue skies above the main stand of the National Olympic Stadium this afternoon