Cambodia crash

The national team starting line-up: [Back row LtoR] Mic, Sopanha, Raksmey, Tiny, PM Udom, Piseth. [Front] Soksana, Narith, El Nasa, Sothearath, Sokumpheak

The Cambodian national team crashed 4-1 in this afternoon's friendly encounter with the visiting collegiate side, Ulsan University from South Korea. So it's back to the drawing board for Cambodia's South Korean coach Lee Tae-Hoon who lined up with a 4-5-1 formation that did reasonably well for much of the first half but which fell apart after the interval. The coach is using a plethora of games against local C-league teams as well as this match against the University team that was playing its third game against the national team in as many years, to assess the players worthy of a place in the national squad for the AFC Challenge Cup qualifying matches in February against Macau. Included in the squad for this game were some new names and faces including Pom Tola from the Army, the Police defender Soy Piseth and PKR's Soun Veasna. Piseth got a starting berth alongside Tieng Tiny and did well enough, as he and his teammates started the game in positive fashion, taking the lead after just 2 minutes. Kouch Sokumpheak, playing wide left, swung over a perfect cross which evaded the challenge of Sam El Nasa in the middle but struck the knee of Ulsan defender Choo Seung Woo and crept over the goal-line. On the half-hour Ulsan forced half a dozen corners without causing too much of a threat on Ouk Mic's goalmouth. However, on 36 minutes, Mic found himself beaten by a wicked bounce as the ball reared up off the turf and over his despairing dive, after Kim Woo Jung struck from outside the box. Honours even at half-time.
Just four minutes after the resumption, Ulsan got their noses in front when substitute Pom Tola's weak headed clearance fell at the feet of Choi Min Seok who rifled the ball past Mic. After that it was pretty much one-way traffic as both teams rang the changes but the fresh legs of Ulsan proved more effective. On the hour, Tola was outwitted by Kim Woo Jung who flashed in his second goal of the game, before late substitute Lee Jae Wook bent down low to head a fourth in time added on. Ulsan stepped on the gas in the second half, upped the tempo and effectively silenced Cambodia's hopes of a first win against the collegiate side. Chhin Chhoeurn sent a glancing header inches wide with Cambodia's best chance of the second period but it was too little against the more powerful visitors.
Cambodia line-up: Mic, Raksmey (Tola 45), Narith (Rady 77), Tiny, Piseth, Sopanha (Veasna 71), Sothearath, Soksana (Chhoeurn 45), Prak Mony Udom (Laboravy 38), Sokumpheak (Sophal Udom 62), El Nasa (Pheng 60). Subs not used: Simay, Bunchhay, Rithy, Bunhieng,

Skipper Ouk Mic leads out the Cambodian national team

3 Phnom Penh Crown players line up alongside PKR's Ouk Mic. They are Sun Sopanha, San Narith and Kouch Sokumpheak (9).

The starting line-up wait for the handshakes

The substitutes bench pose with their friendship flowers

Friendship is the order of the day as the teams and guests pose