Honours shared

PPCFC starting XI, back row, LtoR: Kochi, Boris, Sokthorn, Thierry, Obadin, Bisan. Front Row: Matnorotin, Sothy, Sokheng, Pisa, Booysen - click to enlarge

Result: Phnom Penh Crown 2 African All Stars 2 (Friendly).
Honours were shared at the end of this often bruising 3x35 minute practice match at RSN Stadium this afternoon with both teams having spells on top before the game petered out to a hard-fought draw in the third period. Japanese goalkeeper Jun Kochi was commanding in goal for Crown early on as he made himself big in the face of some marauding African XI attacks, stopping three attempts on goal in the first sixteen minutes. George Bisan was wayward at the other end though Shane Booysen's chipped effort was headed off the goal-line as play switched from end to end. Bisan, from Booysen's tricky wing play, had a chip shot cleared from the under cross-bar before the same combination came up with Crown's opening goal on 31 minutes. Floored by another crass defensive tackle, Booysen's delivery into the box was spot-on and Bisan powered in a header from six yards out. A nice return goal after the striker arrived back from a five-week visit to his Nigerian homeland on Thursday. Bisan found space a minute later but his chipped effort missed the far post by a whisker, and with the last kick of the first period, Booysen's low shot was fumbled and Ouk Sothy's follow-up struck the keeper's body and was cleared. 

Both teams made changes at the break and it was the African XI that came out with guns blazing. The visitors fielded a line-up containing many of the best foreign players in the C-League throughout the game with Dzarma Bata, the league's top scorer amongst their ranks. Svay Rieng's James Adekunle was booked for a scything tackle from behind on Bisan, and they grabbed an equaliser ten minutes after the restart. A right wing cross was headed in at the near post which keeper Yok Ary couldn't keep out, and a minute later, they went ahead after Jeongho Kim failed to halt Nelson Oladiji's charge down the flank. Crown recovered their composure and Momoh Sumaila's run past three players set up Bisan for a low drive which the keeper kept out. A minute later, an acrobatic save at the foot of the post from Kim's header at a corner signalled a warning bell for the visitors which they failed to heed. On 61 minutes, Booysen, who'd been a threat all game, delivered a second cross from a corner and Leng Makara directed his header into the corner of the net for a deserved equaliser. The third period failed to live up to the previous two and the only effort of note was a free-kick by the visitors that rebounded off the cross-bar to leave honours even.
PPCFC vs AASXI: Kochi (Ary 36), Pisa (Srin 36 (Pisa 71)), Sokheng (Da 36 (Sokheng 71)), Boris (Obadin 71), Obadin (Kim 36), Thierry (Suhana 36), Sothy (Sokthorn 71), Sokthorn (Makara 36 (Thierry 71)), Matnorotin (Sumaila 36), Booysen (sub 71 (Boran 92)), Bisan (Tola 71 (Matnorotin 90)). Subs not used: Usarphea, Charly, Polo. Bookings: None. MOTM: Booysen - his deliveries and exciting wing play are a joy. Goals: Bisan (32), Makara (61).

PPCFC line-up 2nd period, back row, LtoR; Srin, Bisan, Kim, Boris, Momoh, Ary. Front: Da, Makara, Suhana, Booysen, Sothy - click to enlarge