Down but not out

2-goals from Leang Soksamnang helped Wat Phnom to a 3-3 draw on Sunday

Plucky Chhma Khmao will be relegated from the Metfone C-League this season, their first in the top flight. That's a certainty. They've won just 1 match all season and that was against their opponents on Sunday, Wat Phnom. It looked as though they could get their 2nd win in the return fixture yesterday after they'd drawn level on 76 minutes and then took the lead a minute later. However, they failed to change their tactics, continued to press forward and were made to pay the price when Wat Phnom levelled the scores six minutes later. The match ended all square at 3-3 leaving both teams frustrated with the point. Wat Phnom aren't clear of the relegation threat just yet and can still be caught by Prek Pra.
Wat Phnom opened the scoring in yesterday's game when Leang Soksamnang was the only player to ignore a linesman's waving flag, spotted the referee waving play on, and slotted the ball home on the half-hour. The goal stood despite the Black Cats' protestations. They equalised within two minutes when skipper Sok Kolamara kept his cool to finish well after showing the Wat Phnom defence a clean pair of heels. Ry Phearoeun gave Wat Phnom the half-time lead with a sidefoot finish on 37 minutes. The Black Cats fightback began with a penalty by Men Piseth and then a minute later Buth Chanra headed in a Kolamara cross to send the blue shirts of Chham Khmao into a celebratory frenzy. In a game littered with mistakes by both sides and lacking the creativity and finesse of Sunday's opening game, Wat Phnom clawed their way back for a point when Men Piseth failed to clear and Leang Soksamnang dived full length to head the ball across the line for a share of the points. Not the best football to be seen but entertaining nonetheless. And surprise, surprise, referee Khuon Virak kept his red card in his pocket, just flashing yellow on 4 occasions.

Chhma Khmao will be disappointed to draw after getting their noses in front late on

Wat Phnom earned themselves a 3-3 draw against the bottom club Chhma Khmao