Kingdom of football: Goals and surprises

Plucky AEU had no answer to Boeung Ket, losing 5-1

The Metfone Cambodian League got underway yesterday with Phnom Penh Crown defeating BBU 2-1, Naga Corp smashing Senate 6-1 and the National Police walking over the Army, after the game was abandoned with ten or so minutes to go. This afternoon, saw no less than 14 goals in just two matches, with Preah Khan Reach puncturing the Kirivong money-fuelled bubble with a 5-3 win, and Boeung Ket starting their C-League title defense by snuffing out the upstarts from Asia Euro University 5-1. Back to Saturday's games. At the Olympic Stadium in the opening game of the new campaign, the Army got all upset when National Police were allowed to score what they saw as a blatantly offside goal and refused to carry on, being behind 2-0 on 72 minutes. Referee Thong Chankethya, yes, the referee I talk about each season as courting controversy like most people eat rice, called time on the game, which is likely to go to Police as a 5-0 win and a fine in the offing for the Army. It happens every season and until the FFC takes strong action against the clubs responsible, it will happen again. Police can't complain as they were the last team to do it a year ago. Sob Ravy and Srey Udom netted for Police. In the second game at Olympic, Naga dispensed easily with Senate 6-1, with the goals shared between Choun Chum, Kop Isa, Teab Vathanak, Prak Chanratana, Pen Stephane and an own goal by Sun Menghoth, while Ron Chibola scored for Senate, who had their keeper, Mak Theara dismissed on 70 minutes. The 2-1 win for Phnom Penh Crown over BBU at the Army Stadium has been dissected elsewhere.

And now to today's games. Kirivong took to the field with their pockets bulging with cash but failed to take into account Preah Khan Reach's youthful enthusiasm and their ability to unlock a static defence. Phany Rotha's opening blast from 30-yards on 7 minutes was the signal for a feast of goals and near misses. A few minutes later Sok Rithy's clearance rebounded into his own net off Rotha though David Njoku claimed a final touch. That was the cue for Sok Chanraksmey to let rip with two goals in two minutes, the first a header, and then Tum Saray curled in a corker moments later. Friday Nwakuna, who will be Kirivong's main man this season after his Golden Boot capture last year with Boeung Ket, stooped low to head in on the half hour and claimed a second with a penalty two minutes from the end of the game. By that time it was all over bar the shouting after Nen Sothearoth had curled a beauty past Hem Simay five minutes into the second half for PKR's fifth. The final score, 5-3 to the Military Police-backed team. Kirivong included two new faces from PPCFC, namely Sok Pheng and Chan Chaya in their starting eleven. In the second match, Asia Euro University came off the back of a couple of good results in the Hun Sen Cup but found their luck was out against last season's champions, Boeung Ket. Chan Vathanaka's free-kick found its way through a mass of players to nestle in the corner on eight minutes and Keo Sokngon's mis-hit shot was tapped in by Bisan George on 37 minutes to give the Rubbermen a two-goal half-time lead. Sary Matnorothin's 25-yard screamer whacked against the Boeung Ket cross-bar early in the 2nd half but it was all over when George rounded the keeper for his second strike. AEU sparked briefly when Ear Piroth bent down to head in after Thon Darapich had struck the bar, but Sokngon wrapped up the 5-1 win with two goals later on.