Tidy win for Academy

PPCFC U-16s. Back row, LtoR: Chanpolin, Sovann, Baraing, Sodavid, Senteang, Samnang. Front Row: Phearath, Noeut, Chansopheak, Piphop, Chhaya - click to enlarge

Result: PPCFC Academy U-16s 5 Chamkarmon FC 1 (Friendly).
The Phnom Penh Crown Academy are building up for their Asia Champions U-16 Trophy matches that begin in May with a series of games against adult teams. The latest saw them face to face with Chamkarmon, one of the local Phnom Penh-based teams that took part in the group stages of the Hun Sen Cup. Playing at their RSN pitch, Crown dominated from the start, they were a yard faster and their passing slicker as Men Piphop had a shot stopped on the goal-line after a minute. Ouk Sovann sent a free-kick a few inches over the bar and Orn Chanpolin weaved through a melee only to see his shot saved. Against the run of play, Chamkarmon scored on 26 minutes with a neat passing move but Crown replied two minutes later with the equaliser. The referee blew for a free-kick on the edeg of the are instead of a penalty kick, but it didn't matter as Sovann curled the dead-ball strike into the top corner. At the start of the 2nd half, Crown's Suon Noeut wasted two great opportunities, as did Chhuot Senteang but they were not to be denied the lead they deserved. On the hour mark, Kim Chhaya moved up from full-back to unleash an unstoppable 20-yard drive that seared into the net. Three minutes later Mat Nuron sent Senteang free and he calmly lobbed the ball over the keeper's head for 3-1. A series of substitutions didn't disrupt Crown's rhythm and on 78 minutes, Yeu Muslim raced clear from the half-way line from Seut Baraing's pass and slotted home. In the 2nd minute of time added on, the impressive Sath Rozak was upended and Sovann completed the 5-1 rout with another of his curling free-kick specials. Quite simply, a masterful performance by the Academy U-16s.
PPCFC U-16s v Chamkarmon: Samnang, Chansopheak, Phearath (Chhaya 46), Baraing, Sovann, Chanpolin (Chanchav 77), Sodavid (Sakrovy 74), Noeut (Muslim 77), Piphop (Rozak 35), Chhaya (Nuron 10 (V Samnang 81)), Senteang (Titchhy 71). Sub not used. Chanvuthy. MOTM: Sovann - two stunning free-kicks. Goals: Sovann (28, 92), Chhaya (60), Senteang (63), Muslim (78).
The previous day, Saturday, the Academy U-14s team met Prek Taten High School from Kandal on the RSN pitch and drew 2-2 with the Academy goals scored by Nop David and Mao Piseth.