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| The starting PPCFC Academy line-up. Back Row ltor: Sakrovy, Piphop, Sodavid, Samnang, Baraing, Chanpolin. front: Noeut, Phearath, Muslim, Chansopheak, Rozak |
No one likes a cheat to prosper. Hence the vexation at the end of this morning's friendly game between the Phnom Penh Crown Academy and the Preah Khan Reach U-16s, which the latter won 3-2. The PKR goalkeeper pole-axed Chhuot Senteang, conceding a stonewall penalty and his dangerously-high tackle merited a red card. He got a yellow and then saved Ouk Sovann's spot-kick that was hit too straight. It should've been PKR's second dismissal of the game, after two yellows in the space of a minute for one of their strikers five minutes before half-time. Sportingly, Crown allowed PKR to return to eleven players for the duration of the 2nd half. Today was the sixth meeting between the two teams in the past six months and the older PKR team continue to hold the advantage, winning three of the games, with three draws completing the results; 1-1, 0-1, 2-2, 3-3, 3-5 and today's 2-3 reverse for Crown.
On a soggy RSN pitch due to overnight rain, PKR began strongly and were two goals up after 14 minutes, after Crown twice surrendered possession in dangerous areas and were made to pay. It was 20 minutes before Crown tested the PKR keeper for the first time. On 32 minutes, PKR were reduced to ten-men after a rush of blood, twice, by one of their players. A misplaced back-pass gave Mat Sakrovy an early opportunity to reduce the arrears, which he gobbled up, two minutes before the break. After half-time, Crown at last found their feet and their passing game, with Mat Nuron finding Orn Chanpolin and his 22-yard super strike levelled the scoreline twenty minutes into the 2nd period. Ten minutes later and another defensive error allowed PKR to nose back in front. A couple of minutes after that and Senteang was floored and forced to limp out of the game, after a shocking goalkeeper's challenge, but Sovann's penalty was too tame. In the final minute, Sraing Titchhy's free-kick was tapped home by Yeu Muslim but a linesman's flag went up late to deny Crown's U-14s the draw their efforts deserved.
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| Chhuot Senteang is denied by the goalkeeper |
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| Ouk Sovann's penalty kick was saved |
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| The last minute tap in at the far post by Yeu Muslim was flagged offside |
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| The Academy adopt the club's new happy-slappy pre-match routine |
4 comments:
Oh my...what a difficult match and to play and then lose in that fashion at the end...a good life lesson for the boys though...life will not always be fair!
Steven,
It will make them even more determined to do better, especially when they meet the PKR team again. The pitch didn't help either team play their best football but PKR started brighter and the Academy only got into their stride in the 2nd half. However, they didn't keep the ball enough and lost possession too easily, so there are definite areas to improve upon. Games like these are character-building.
Andy
Well done Preah Khan Reach... Crown must work hard...
Anon 11:50AM,
I'll say well done PKR when they deserve it. On Saturday they didn't deserve anything.
We told their coaches about the striker before he was sent off but they did bugger all about it. They use any tactic possible to win the match. Their win at all costs mentality is not how I want our team to play the game, that's for sure.
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