Surprise Sunday

Kirivong are 4 points off 4th place and a play-off spot after beating Chhma Khmao 4-2. Julius Ononiwu (no 7) scored all 4.

Kirivong turned over bottom club Chhma Khmao 4-2 but didn't have everything their own way in today's Metfone C-League encounter. Julius Ononiwu netted all 4 of the Kirivong goals to take his season's tally to 17 and grab the lead in the race for the Golden Boot. Two of the goals arrived early in the 1st half before Kirivong took their foot off the gas and got sloppy. Two more in a four minute spell, early in the 2nd period handed the game to Kirivong. I managed to catch up with Julius after the game for a 5-minute chat to find out more about him. The Black Cats from Svay Rieng never gave up and scored through Men Piseth (penalty) and Phan Dara. In the second game Phnom Penh Crown were looking to recapture top spot in the table with a win over Khemara, but they didn't manage it. Though Sun Sopanha gave them a 1st half lead with a brilliantly-executed free-kick, Kuoch Sokumpheak let fly with a 30 yarder that skidded through the legs of embarrassed Crown keeper Peng Bunchhay and claimed a point. Khemara had centre-half Kun Kuon sent off for two bookable offenses midway through the second half but held out to put a spoke in Crown's title chances. Book-happy referee Thong Chankethya also flashed six yellow cards. Naga stay top with BBU in close contention and Crown a further point behind.

Khemara snatched a point from Crown in a 1-1 draw, despite having a man sent off

Phnom Penh Crown could only draw 1-1 with Khemara to dent their title hopes
Referee Thong Chankethya is an exhibitionist even in his coin-tossing. Everyone else looks on bemused. As usual he was card happy, issuing 6 yellows and 1 red card.