The last hurrah

David Booth takes his Crown players for one final warm-up session

Last night's 6-0 beating by home team favourites Istiklol was David Booth's last game in charge of the Phnom Penh Crown team, as he announced a few days ago. He wanted to go out on a high, but it didn't quite pan out that way. Up til half-time, though the Tajik team had the majority of the play, Crown were in the game and beginning to frustrate their opponents. Two minutes after the restart that was all forgotten, as Istiklol took the game by the scruff of the neck and whacked in another five goals without reply. The sag in the shoulders of players and staff said it all. Soundly beaten by a better team, for the second time in three days. David Booth admitted his team were simply not good enough and it was the end of this particular road for the English coach.

His final press conference as Crown's head coach was not a happy one

Reviewing his troops ahead of the Istiklol match

Final instructions in the warm-up room outside the team's dressing room