Captain Pheak nets two

PPCFC starting XI, back row, LtoR: Obadin, Boris, Makara, Katanha, Srin, Bisan. Front Row: Borey, Pheng, Suhana, Sokumpheak. Yaty - click to enlarge

Result: Phnom Penh Crown 5 Albirex Niigata 1 (Friendly).
With the Metfone C-League season in the midst of a three-week break, Crown took the opportunity to play another friendly match, this time against Albirex Niigata, at the RSN Stadium, playing 3x45 minute periods to ensure both squad got sufficient game time. And with just five minutes on the clock, Crown took the lead when Kouch Sokumpheaks spotted Leng Makara's forward run with a precise pass and the wideman took the ball on and drilled it low past the goalkeeper from the edge of the box. Makara returned the favour after 12 minutes when he whipped in a low center and Sokumpheak was waiting to tuck the ball home from six yards out. Crown continued to dominate and create chances with Newton Katanha dragging a shot wide, Odion Obadin having a header saved low down and Makara sending a back post drive into the ground and up onto the cross-bar. Sou Yaty saw his first action when he saved from Mart Hasan's effort. Sos Suhana had a powerful drive tipped over by the strong hands of the Albirex keeper and then Katanha headed over from Khim Borey's drilled corner. On 37 minutes, Crown added to their tally when Sokumpheak was again in the right spot in front of goal to finish off a sweet move involving Obadin, Katanha and Ngoy Srin, who pulled his center back from the byeline to his waiting skipper. Two minutes later, Albirex caught the home team napping as they broke quickly and Kataoka Michinori got a toe to the ball as Yaty came racing out of his box, for a consolation. 3-1 to Crown at the first interval. Borey and Katanha were foiled early on after the restrat before Obadin added another to Crown's tally on 59 minutes. The giant defender escaped his marker and easily headed home from Borey's lofted corner kick. Albirex fluffed a great opportunity when they struck the post and Rafael Oliveira's goalbound shot was deflected wide, as both teams made a series of substitutions. In the third period, Oliveira fired across the face of goal and Ly Morslim sent a header wide when it seemed easier to score before Crown added their fifth goal of the afternoon. Jeongho Kim threaded a pass through to Chhom Pisa and he kept his cool before curling a shot into the top of the net on 119 minutes. Before the end Kim blazed over the bar from close-in and Chhout Senteang miscued in front of goal, while Oliveira had his shot grabbed low down by the keeper. Crown ended the game with five Academy youngsters on the field. 
PPCFC v Albirex: Yaty (Ary), Srin (Oliveira), Pheng (Dara (Da)), Boris (Pisa (Sodavid)), Obadin (Sarak), Sokumpheak (Sothy (Baraing)), Suhana (Sokheng (Nakamura)), Borey (Sosela (Chanpolin)), Makara (Morslim), Bisan (Titchhy (Sovann)), Katanha (Kim (Senteang)). MOTM: Sokumpheak.  Goals: Makara (5), Sokumpheak 2 (12, 37), Obadin (59), Pisa (119).

PPCFC in 3rd half. Back Row, LtoR: Kim, Pisa, Oliveira, Dara, Sarak, Ary. Front: Morslim, Sothy, Sosela, Sokheng, Titchhy - click to enlarge