Pellegrino in charge

PPCFC v TriAsia, back row, LtoR; Ary, Sokumpheak, Pisa, Kim, Sovann, Ngwa. Front Row: Pellegrino, Titchhy, Morslim, Sosela, Dara - click to enlarge

Result: Phnom Penh Crown 5 TriAsia 'B' 1 (Friendly).
To give the players who didn't play on Saturday for their respective teams in the Metfone C-League, Crown took on TriAsia at the RSN Stadium this morning in a practice match. Getting a run-out for Crown was former Australian League midfielder Adriano Pellegrino and his impact on the game was substantial to say the least. The teams played three periods of thirty minutes and Crown took control early on to dominate possession and chances throughout the match. Pellegrino threaded a pass through to Ly Morslim for a thunderous finish with just three minutes played and the ex-A-League star then whipped a free-kick against the post from the edge of the box. Jeongho Kim moved up from defense to send a header wide of the mark when it seemed easier to score, and Ngoy Srin blasted a shot over the top when very well-placed. On 22 minutes, Pellegrino showed what he can really do with a drilled 30-yard power-drive that evaded the keeper outstretched hand for Crown's second. Baldwin Ngwa, still keen to bag a contract for the 2nd half of the season, thrashed a shot against the cross-bar and with half an hour on the clock, the Cameroon striker controlled and lashed the ball home from an angle, after Pellegrino's pass had picked him out a treat. Kim moved up front and within 37 seconds of the restart had a shot saved. Eight minutes in and Pellegrino doubled his tally. Ngwa was brought down and the A-Leaguer stepped up to drill his 25-yard free-kick past the TriAsia keeper with consummate ease. On 49 minutes, Pellegrino placed a pin-point dead-ball onto Kim's forehead and he headed powerfully in at the far post. In under a minute, TriAsia had reduced the deficit when Kim Chhaya turned a cross into his own net. Yok Ary made a good diving save at the start of the third period, while Ly Morslim was sent clear by Vat Samnang only to steer his shot against the foot of the upright. In Sodavid crashed a 20-yard shot against the cross-bar, and Ngwa had a header saved only for Morslim to nod the rebound past the post from close-in. In the last moments, Samnang looked to have scored after a mazy run but his shot slipped wide of the far post.
PPCFC v TriAsia B: Ary, Dara, Titchhy (K Chhaya 31 (Morslim 61)), Sovann (Baraing 31 (Senteang 57)), Kim (V Samnang 61), Pisa (Sophat 61), Sokumpheak, Pellegrino, Sosela, Morslim (Chanpolin 31 (Sodavid 61)), Ngwa. MOTM: Pellegrino - 2 goals and 3 assists. Goals: Morslim (3), Pellegrino 2 (22, 38 ), Ngwa (30), Kim (49).