Crown wrap up group win

Crown line-up v Baksey Chamkrong; [Back row LtoR] Dara, Sothearith, Sovan, Bunchhay, Virath, Narong [front row] Ratana, Pheng, Narith, Sokumpheak, Vanthan

The group matches in the Hun Sen Cup came to a close for Phnom Penh Crown this afternoon, with their third successive win, this time a fairly straightforward 5-0 victory over a determined Baksey Chamkrong from Siem Reap. It was the third game in five days on the bumpy and bone-hard surface at the Kompong Thom stadium and Crown opened the scoring from the penalty spot through Kouch Sokumpheak on eleven minutes after a handball. Sok Pheng (pictured) doubled the lead eight minutes before half-time. Three more goals in the second period sealed the win and leave Crown sitting pretty on top of Group D. Chan Dara moved upfield to find the net on 68 minutes with a cross-shot that deceived the keeper, substitute Tes Sophat scored with eleven minutes to go, finishing off a pass from Kouch Sokumpheak, who then netted his 8th goal in three games, scoring in the 2nd minute of time added on with a 1-on-1 with the keeper. Peng Bunchhay in the Crown goal, making his first appearance in the cup, did well to keep Baksey out on a couple of occasions as the province team showed their mettle, but to no avail. Crown were without five of their all-Khmer squad through suspension and the ban by the football federation. In the last sixteen round, they now meet the 2nd best team in Group C (which will be decided tomorrow), on Sunday 23 January at 4.30pm at Olympic Stadium.
Crown line-up: Bunchhay, Dara, Vanthan, Sovan, Sothearith, Narith, Narong, Virath (Sophat 74), Ratana, Sokumpheak, Pheng. Sub not used: Visokra.
Update: Chhlam Samuth (the Navy team that used to be called Phuchung Neak) lost 2-nil to Preah Khan Reach today and so finish as runners-up in Group C. That means they'll face Crown in the last 16 round on 23 January.

The match officials and team captains complete the toss-up, which Baksey won. Crown won the game however, 5-0.