Another defeat for U-23s

PPCFC Line-up, back row LtoR: Pheng, Keo, Borey, Obadin, Turdera, Boris. Front Row: Sothy, Sosela, Ary, Da, Sokumpheak - click to enlarge

Phnom Penh Crown crashed the Cambodia U-23 party again this morning, posting another 2-1 scoreline to defeat the country's U-23s who are building up for the BIDC Cup and Sea Games in the next two months. The U-23s were beaten by the same score the week before. Crown were without two of their foreign contingent for this morning's encounter at the Olympic Stadium, with Kyle King and Liam Hutchisnson both nursing serious colds and eye infections. In the U-23 team, three Crown players were in the starting line-up to face their parent club; Sou Yaty, Sos Suhana and Bin Thierry. Khim Borey continued his goalscoring form with the opener after just ten minutes. A Neou Sosela corner was headed back across goal by Odion Obadin where Borey was waiting at the far post to fire in, with the ball taking a slight deflection past Yaty. Crown were comfortably in control for much of the first half but it needed Yok Ary to charge out of his area to tackle Chhin Chhoeun as he bore down on goal and when Ary headed clear, Phoung Soksana's return effort was easily swept clear by Kok Boris. 

Though both teams made no changes at the interval, the second half saw numerous comings and goings which interrupted the flow of the game. Fifteen minutes after the break a raking long ball from Obadin landed on Leng Makara's head but he could only direct his header into the arms of Yaty. With George Bisan, Boeung Ket's top scorer last term, on the pitch for Crown, his glancing header from Makara's corner, was the closest anyone came in the opening half-hour. A miss-kick by Ngoy Srin gave Ung Dara a sight of goal but Ary was equal to his drive. The same player also sent a header across the face of goal as the U-23s enjoyed a spell in control. As the match entered its final ten minutes, Bisan went on a powerful run past three defenders and his lay-off to Makara saw the young striker's powerful drive tipped over the bar by a stretching Yaty. With five minutes to go, Chan Vathanaka took a tumble in the box as he was challenged by San Sarak and the young defender received a yellow card for his troubles. Vathanaka made no mistake from the penalty spot. Despite the set-back, Crown went up the other end and with two minutes remaining, a Chhom Pisa corner was headed into the box by Obadin and Bisan, with his back to goal, looped the ball over his head and into the corner of Yaty's net for the match-winner. There was still time for Vathanaka to break clear but his finish was high and wide.

Crown coach Sam Schweingruber commented after his team's second successive victory over the U-23 national team; "We are clearly preparing for the season ahead and not these individual games, when you look at our fitness and our speed. For example we had two hard sessions yesterday so people were tired this morning. But its good to see someone like Boris looking so comfortable after his return from France. I also liked Tola's speed and energy. A few other players did well whilst some others disappointed me. So we still have much work to do. For tomorrow's match against BBU we'll rotate players to make sure everyone gets 90 minutes under their belt." Crown meet BBU at the Army Stadium tomorrow at 2pm.
PPCFC v U-23s: Ary, Da (Sarak 72), Keo (Srin 34), Boris (Makara 58), Obadin, Sothy (Sokheng 64), Sokumpheak (Pisa 80), Pheng, Sosela (Bisan 64), Marcelo (Tola 58), Borey (Titchhy 80). Subs not used: Soksela, Morslim, Phearun. Booked: Sarak. MOTM: Obadin - commanding in defence and two assists in attack. Goals: Borey (10), Bisan (88). 

U-23s Line-up. Back Row LtoR: PM Udom, Pheng, THIERRY, YATY, Rithy, Samoeun. Front Row: Sovan, Chhoeun, Soksana, SUHANA, Khemarin