Internal dispute

First-team line-up. Back Row LtoR: Srin, Lika, Keo Dara, Boris, Phearun, Thierry. Front: Chea Dara, Ratana, Sophat, Morslim, Pisa.

Finding teams to give the Phnom Penh Crown Academy a tough game is hard in itself. The mostly fifteen year olds are easily the best in their age group nationwide and that means the majority of their matches have to be against older opposition. Very soon they will announce their admission into a major new youth competition which will knock the spots off anything they've been involved in so far. The details of this new competition will be known soon enough. In the meantime, on Sunday morning, they played a friendly game against the Crown first-team squad players who aren't regulars in the C-League or who have missed recent games through suspension. With head coach Bouy Dary on his way back from Bangkok where he took a team to compete in the Thailand U-13 Tournament, Kao Kiry was in charge as the Academy took on their more senior clubmates for the very first time. For most of the first half the Academy were clearly in control, frustrating their opponents with their keep-ball game-plan. The best chance fell to In Sodavid but Keo Dara in the first-team goal stood tall to keep out his vicious drive, until the Academy deservedly took the lead just after the half hour. Sraing Titchhy broke from defence and surged into the box only to see his shot rebound off the foot of the post, but Chhuot Senteang was on-hand to tap the ball home and put the youngsters in front. Ten minutes after the break, the Academy made changes and that gave the first-team enough momentum to get back into the match. Vi Lika headed against the upright before 15 minutes into the second half, Bin Thierry capitalised on a misplaced pass from Ouk Sovann to fire in the equaliser. Five minutes later, Sovann, normally the most reliable defender in the Academy squad, repeating his error and Thierry scored again, though looking suspiciously offside. Five minutes more and the first-team were firmly in control as Kok Boris slammed in a drive from twenty yards to seal a 3-1 success for the senior team. It was a rare defeat for the Academy but their first-half display showed what they are capable of and they will look forward to a re-match I am sure.
PPCFC first-team line-up: Keo Dara, Chea Dara, Phearun (Kano), Lika, Srin, Tes Sophat, Pisa, Boris, Ratana, Morslim (Phearun), Thierry.
PPCFC Academy: Soksela, Chansopheak, Baraing, Titchhy (Chanchav), Sovann (V Samnang), T Chhaya (K Chhaya), Sodavid (Rozak), Chanpolin (Piphop), Nuron (Phearath), Muslim (Sakrovy), Senteang.

Academy line-up. Back Row LtoR: Titchhy, Sodavid, Sovann, Soksela, Baraing, Chanpolin. Front: Chansopheak, Muslim, Nuron, T Chhaya, Senteang.

Kok Boris (red) takes on Yeu Muslim and Ken Chansopheak