Saturday, June 16, 2012

Kirivong shocker

Ek Sopheap's two late goals gave Kirivong a 3-1 success v Army
The Army suffered a surprise defeat in this afternoon's Metfone C-League matches at Olympic Stadium, whilst Preah Khan Reach just about managed to scrape a win in the later game. The Army, with six of Cambodia's U-22 squad starting against Kirivong, simply didn't make their superiority count when it mattered, after taking a half-hour lead through Meak Chhordaravuth's arrow header at the far post. Both keepers made good saves but the Army dominated possession without creating enough chances. They were made to pay when Mohamed Zaky scored an identical header on 70 minutes to equalise and with their tails up, Kirivong pressed home their advantage. New face Ek Sopheap proved to be the Kirivong hero with two goals in two minutes, at the very end of normal time. He slammed his first goal past Sou Yaty from ten yards out and then broke clear from the half-way line, kept his nerve and finished calmly to give his team a rare success.
In the 2nd match, Preah Khan Reach would've expected to steam-roller Chhlam Samuth from the kick-off but it never quite worked out like that. In fact the team languishing in one of the two relegation places were bolstered by no less than seven new signings and it showed, as their grit and determination blunted the PKR strikeforce, who boasted Khuon Laboravy and new face Olawale Bologun. PKR's class told in the end but they can't be happy with only Nen Sothearoth's goal separating the two teams. It came on 72 minutes and carried a stroke of good fortune as his cross caught the wind and sailed into the top corner via the gloves of new keeper Hong Ly. With a few minutes remaining, Chhlam Samuth's skipper Sunday Ayodele looked to have worked a shock leveller but after taking it around keeper Sar Sophea, he inexplicably chose to pass to a teammate instead of smashing the ball home, and the chance was gone. The last two matches to be played tomorrow, before a 3-week break in the league programme, see Boeung Ket take on the season's surprise package National Police, whilst Phnom Penh Crown need a win over bottom club Western Uni to kick-start their revival.
Kirivong ran out 3-1 winners v Army

The Army failed to capitalize on their possession and lost

Preah Khan were unconvincing in their 1-nil success

Chhlam Samuth will feel happy with 70 minutes before going down 1-0

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