Eleven goal thriller

PPCFC Academy U-16s v CMAC, back row, LtoR: Titchhy, Morslim, Chanchav, Dara, Da, Chanvuthy. Front: Ponvuthy, V Samnang, Pisa, Phearath, Rozak - click to enlarge

Match Result: Phnom Penh Crown Academy 6 CMAC 5 (Friendly).
Eleven goals in this friendly game at RSN Stadium said a lot about the defences of both teams - they were clearly not at their best! The Crown Academy included four of the younger senior squad members and it was one of them, Ly Morslim who opened the scoring after 7 minutes when he cashed in on a poor back-pass. CMAC, who are talking about a crack at Division 1A football later this year, equalised on 22 minutes after Sraing Titchhy had a shot saved at the foot of the post. After the goal, Morslim robbed the keeper and struck the foot of the post. Cashing in on some sloppy defending, CMAC scored two goals in a minute and a half, though sandwiched in between was a great run by Titchhy, who let rip with a drive that cannoned back off the cross-bar. A minute before the break, CMAC went further in front after a defensive slip, though Crown made it 2-4 at the interval when Morslim fed Thourng Da, 25 yards from goal, and he sent a left-foot screamer into the top corner. Chhom Pisa pulled another goal back three minutes after the restart, finishing off a Da pass with precision, but CMAC came straight back and cashed in on a long ball over the top just two minutes later. Titchhy smacked another shot against the woodwork, Svang Samnang saved a CMAC break with his feet and Pov Ponvuthy could've done better in a one-on-one, before Pisa swept past three players and slotted home with ease on 61 minutes. He wasn't finished either. Just four minutes later, he sent a dipping, rasping drive over the keeper's head for the equaliser at 5-5. It was all Crown at this stage, with Titchhy and Morslim, at least twice, going close before an inspired substitution sent on 14-year-old Mao Piseth for the last few minutes and he grabbed the Crown winner with five minutes remaining. It was a tap-in after Sath Rozak's shot went through the keeper's hands, struck the post and rolled across the goal-line. Piseth added the all-important final touch. 6-5 to Crown and a quite breathless match to watch, let alone play in.
PPCFC U-16s v CMAC: Chanvuthy (S Samnang 33), Da, Phearath, Dara, Chanchav, Rozak (V Samnang 87), Ponvuthy (Piseth 83), Titchhy, V Samnang (T Chhaya 48), Pisa (Sakrovy 80), Morslim. MOTM: Pisa - for his hat-trick. Goals: Morslim (7), Da (45), Pisa 3 (48, 61, 65), Piseth (85).