Table-toppers

The PPCFC Academy 2 team that top the table. Back Row, LtoR: Chanpolin, Sodavid, Soksela, Senteang, Sovann, Titchhy. Front Row: Phearath, Chansopheak, T Chhaya, Nuron, Muslim.

The Phnom Penh Crown Academy teams recorded two more victories in the Cambodia Football Development League U-16s division on Sunday afternoon in week 4. PPCFC 2 lead the table with four straight wins, brushing aside the initially stiff opposition provided by their PPCFC Community team colleagues 5-0. The community boys held out for fifteen minutes until Yeu Muslim struck the cross-bar and Mat Nuron bundled the ball over the goal-line. Muslim finished with ease five minutes later and in time added on at the end of the first-half,  Nuron added his second through a forest of legs. Without goalkeeper Khek Chan Sambattey, the community team would've been looking at a cricket score, as the youngster, who's already made his C-League debut for BBU this season, kept out a series of goal-bound attempts. After the break, Nuron completed his hat-trick, finishing off an In Sodavid cross and then Muslim added a deft-touch to a breakaway for his side's fifth. In the earlier kick-off, PPCFC Academy 1 put RSISA to the sword, winning 7-1 despite a plucky start from their opponents. Suon Noeut opened the floodgates from the penalty spot after Pov Ponvuthy had been upended. Vat Samnang quickly added a second and then set up Mat Sakrovy for a delightful chip from 20 yards out. RSISA managed to pull a goal back but almost immediately, Sakrovy raced clear to score with ease. Just 46 seconds into the second period of thirty minutes each way, Ponvuthy beat the offside trap to dance around the keeper. Sakrovy completed his hat-trick fifteen minutes in with another trademark chip, before Ponvuthy showed another clean pair of heels to a dispirited RSISA defence for the final nail in their coffin. The two Academy teams are first and second in the table. The results for the U-12 and U-14 teams in Crown's colours weren't so encouraging on Sunday morning. The two U-12 teams lost 8-3 to PKR2 and 10-1 to PKR1. In the U-14 competition, PPCFC 1 were beaten 6-0 by PKR and the PPCFC 2 boys went down 7-1 to Youth Shark. Both age groups are finding the league a tough baptism after recently forming their teams, but they continue to play with enthusiasm and spirit and will definitely get better.

The PPCFC Academy 1 team beat RSISA 7-1. Back Row, LtoR: K Chhaya, Chanchav, Baraing, Rozak, Sakrovy, S Samnang. Front Row: David, Noeut, Piphop, V Samnang, Ponvuthy, Ronaldo.

The PPCFC Community team in the U-16 competition