Bully boys win

Cambodia U-16s v Vietnam. Back Row LtoR: Ravan, Mesa, Chanpolin, Baraing, Senteang, Dinarong. Front Row: Ponvuthy, Ratana, Noeut, Sodavid, Titchhy (capt) - click to enlarge

Cambodia's U-16s were quite literally kicked off the park by the Vietnam U-16s in their Group A AFF U-16 Youth Championship tie last night. Vietnam muscled and bullied their way to a 6-0 victory, leaving Cambodia's team looking like a scene from a movie massacre at the Zabuthiri Stadium in Naypyidaw, Myanmar. For coach Sam Schweingruber it was going to plan for the opening 35 minutes as his team stuck to their strategy and restricted the opposition, but a sloppy piece of defending gave Vietnam the lead through Bach Hong Han on 39 minutes. By that time, Cambodia had already lost striker Chhuot Senteang with a fractured collar bone following a bad challenge on the half hour and then goalkeeper Sem Mesa was kicked and stamped on and was unable to start the second-half. Just before the break Cambodia's best chance was cancelled as the match referee failed to play advantage and blew for a free-kick when two players were racing clear. Vietnam's Hong Han headed his team further ahead three minutes after the restart and Hoang The Tai netted a third on 54 minutes. Cambodia refused to lie down and took the game to their opponents but a series of reckless challenges on Orn Chanpolin, Pov Ponvuthy, Kunthea Ravan and In Sodavid hindered the team's progress and Vietnam's Le Tien Anh scored on 71 minutes. Despite their brave fighting spirit, Cambodia conceded two more goals in the last two minutes to hat-trick man Hong Han and substitute Nguyen Doan Trung Nhan. Referee Xaypaseuth Phonsanit of Laos finally woke up and brandished a straight red card for Tien Anh on 83 minutes but by then it was too little too late and Vietnam's bully boy tactics had won the day. Cambodia will play the hosts Myanmar in their final group game on Wednesday but will be without Senteang and Mesa.
Cambodia U-16s line-up: Mesa (Samnang 46), Noeut, Baraing, Dinarong (Sovann 59), Titchhy (capt), Sodavid, Chanpolin, Ravan, Ponvuthy, Ratana, Senteang (Sokheng 34). Subs not used: Sokundara, Chansopheak, Phearath, Muslim, Piphop, Rozak.