PVF will meet Harimau Muda

The Asia U-16 Champions Trophy finalists have been decided after the two-legged semi-finals. Rather surprisingly last years champions, Chonburi Academy from Thailand are out, beaten 6-1 over two legs by Harimau Muda U-16s, the national youth team of Malaysia, who did the unexpected and won 3-0 in the second leg in Thailand. In the other semi-final, Frenz Malaysia found PVF from Vietnam in great form, winning their home leg 3-0 in Ho Chi Minh and then grabbing a late goal to win 1-0 in Malaysia. The two legs of the Final will be played on 25 and 31 August with PVF getting home advantage in the first leg. The Phnom Penh Crown Academy finished a creditable 3rd in the Group B standings, well behind both Chonburi and Frenz Malaysia, in a six-team group.

Crown go down fighting

PPCFC v Chonburi, line-up, back row, LtoR: Chanvuthy, Chanpolin, Chanchav, Senteang, Titchhy, Sovann. Front Row: Sakrovy, Baraing, Ponvuthy, Sodavid, Phearath - click to enlarge

Match Result: Phnom Penh Crown Academy 0 Chonburi Academy 1 (Asia U-16 Champions Trophy).
For their final ACT game of the season, the Crown Academy were looking to do a lot better against the competition favourites Chonburi here in Thailand, after losing 8-3 at home last week to the same opponents. The home team had already qualified for the competition's semi-finals, having won the 2013 version and are keen to repeat the feat. Crown would finish in 3rd place in Group B whatever the outcome. Kung Chanvuthy got the nod for the final match between the sticks with slight knocks for Kim Chhaya and Suon Noeut leaving them on the bench. In the opening minutes, Crown looked to Sraing Titchhy for a breakthrough but he was halted in his tracks on a couple of occasions. Chanvuthy was called into action in the 8th minute as Kritthanaphong Paidaen got a lucky break in the box but his shot was palmed away by the Crown stopper. On sixteen minutes Orn Chanpolin released Titchhy and as he raced clear he was upended by Autthagowit Jantod. A yellow card for the defender, saved from dismissal by a teammate in a covering position. Ouk Sovann's free-kick from 20 yards out looked to have found the top corner only to hit the post and bounce to safety. A let off for the home team. Moments later, Long Phearath ventured down the left flank, slalomed around three challenges but his dangerous low cross was cleared at the last moment with Chhuot Senteang looming menacingly. It was Chonburi's turn to hit the woodwork when Nititorn Sripramarn fed Paidaen on the edge of the box and he lazily struck a shot which rebounded into Chanvuthy's hands after hitting the upright. Pov Ponvuthy was looking lively on the left flank for Crown and after his run was blocked, Chanpolin sent a speculative 25-yarder wide of the target. Chonburi brought on substitute Theeraphat Niyomrit after 31 minutes and in less than a minute, he opened the scoring for the home team. Keeping the ball with successive passes, Kritsada Kaman spotted Niyomrit's blindside run into the box and picked him out perfectly, for the substitute to arch his neck muscles and send a header over Chanvuthy's outstretched hands. Chonburi kept the ball well for long periods, with Sripramarn heading over and Niyomrit firing straight at Chanvuthy before the goalkeeper was pulled up for holding the ball too long. The free-kick came to nothing as half-time came with the group winners a goal to the good. 

The second half started brightly for the visitors with Chanpolin feeding Senteang who looked to have escaped the back-line only to take a moment too long to get his shot away, and Arthit Kansangwet got a last-ditch tackle in to thwart Crown's leading scorer. A rare miskick by Seut Baraing presented Paidaen with a golden opportunity from fifteen yards out but Chanvuthy stood firm and helped the ball over the cross-bar with a strong hand, with just five minutes played. Choun Chanchav got a timely block in to deflect a shot from distance by Saharat Sontisawat, the home skipper. As Chonburi pressed, last week's 5-goal hero Sittichok Paso headed over and Sontisawat blasted well wide. With twelve minutes of the second-half gone, Senteang was played in by Ponvuthy and as he got a shot away with his left foot, home keeper Chakhon Philakhlang was at full stretch to keep his goal intact. Men Piphop came on for Crown and was immediately in the action as he raced clear onto Mat Sakrovy's pass, but found Philakhlang's reactions razor-sharp as he left his line to block the attempted cross-shot. In an end-to-end encounter that was being lapped up by the audience, the home team went in search of a second goal and skipper Sontisawat stung Chanvuthy's fingertips with a 20-yard blast, before Paso weaved his way around two defenders but screwed his shot across the face of goal. It was edge-of-the-seat stuff. At the other end, Senteang took the ball on from the halfway line and evaded the tackle of Kansangwet before unleashing a curling low drive which Philakhlang did well to get down to and hold at the second attempt. Sontisawat escaped his marker and laid the ball to Sripramarn only for Chanvuthy to be equal to his snap-shot at the near post. Chonburi were fortunate to find the referee from Malaysia in a benevolent mood when Natthanon Charoensingkeewan jumped up in his own box and the ball struck his hand, only for play to be waved on. Senteang was a constant thorn to the home team and a one-two with Ponvuthy gave the striker a half chance, though Jantod got his foot in to block for a corner. The final ten minutes was devoid of chances as Chonburi were content to sit on their lead and Crown couldn't find a way through, to end the season with a defeat but their pride restored after this narrow reverse. 

Crown Academy coach Bouy Dary had this to say at the final whistle. "The boys did really well in terms of defending, creating chances, we didn't score but we played good football, especially in the second half and we did well. Unlucky not to score and get a penalty for handball. I'm proud that the boys gave everything they had. We lost the game but I'm happy to see us improve from the last game. Its important to understand why we do so well away from home. First, the quality of the pitch. Every away team has a far better pitch than the Olympic Stadium. They allow us to play good football, we play the ball on the ground and a good surface allows us to play our game. Secondly, away from home we play in the late afternoon or evening when its cool, which makes a real difference from the morning games at home, when its so hot. We've improved a lot this year, as a coach I want more, but I'm happy that we've shown a big improvement over last year. We only drew 2 games last year and found it hard to score goals. This year we have scored a lot more goals and we've stopped the other teams scoring, except the Chonburi game when we had a lot of injuries. I'm quite happy with our results this time around. I would choose Pov Ponvuthy as our most improved player. He's only small but he causes other teams problems and works really hard at all aspects of his game, attacking and defending."
PPCFC v Chonburi: Chanvuthy, Sovann (K Chhaya 90+3), Phearath, Chanchav, Baraing, Chanpolin (Muslim 89), Sodavid (Chansopheak 86), Sakrovy (Rozak 72), Ponvuthy (Noeut 81), Titchhy (Piphop 61), Senteang. Sub not used: S Samnang. Bookings: None. MOTM: Senteang and Chanvuthy - both had very good games.

Early hopes dashed

PPCFC Academy v Chonburi, back row, LtoR: K Chhaya, Senteang, Chanpolin, Sakrovy, S Samnang, Sovann (capt). Front: Phearath, Rozak, Noeut, Ponvuthy, Baraing - click to enlarge

Match Result: Phnom Penh Crown Academy 3 Chonburi Thailand 8 (Asia U16 Champions Trophy).
For their final home game in the Asia U-16 Champions Trophy, Crown coach Bouy Dary was without midfield regulars In Sodavid and Men Piphop and wideman Sraing Titchhy all because of injury. Chonburi were the 2013 champions and are topping Group B once again, and are odds-on favourites to take the 2014 championship as well. Crown kicked off on another hot morning at the Olympic Stadium and surprised their opponents by taking a very early lead, with less than two minutes played on the clock. Chhuot Senteang spotted the run of Mat Sakrovy and picked him out beautifully with his pass, Sakrovy's first touch seemed to be too much but he got his toe to the ball before the Chonburi goalkeeper and rolled it under his body. In the 13th minute Chonburi showed their prowess as Sittichok Paso let fly with a low shot into the corner past a hapless Svang Samnang in the Crown goal. Autthagowit Jantod headed a corner in Samnang's hands before Paso netted his second with a sweet first touch from Samart Authairatsamee's cross that eluded the Crown defence on 23 minutes. Visiting keeper Chakhon Philakhlang was off his line quickly to snuff out danger as Senteang raced onto Kim Chhaya's through ball, but Chonburi remained a constant threat each time they attacked. Chhaya got in the way of Saharat Sontisawat's fierce strike and Samnang was also quick to deny Kritthanaphong Paidaen's burst into the box. On 38 minutes, the league leaders pierced the home defence for a third time as Authairatsamee got behind Long Phearath and though Samnang saved his shot, the ball squirmed under his body for Paso to make it a hat-trick with the easiest of tap-ins. Chhaya, playing in a wide right position for the first-time, sent a 30-yard shot harmlessly wide and then forced a near post save from Philakhlang in stoppage time, as the keeper reacted quickly to touch the shot around the upright.

Suon Noeut failed to re-appear for the second-half with Ken Chansopheak taking his place, to the delight of the crowd. Crown started the second period more brightly, with Chhaya's short corner to Seut Baraing catching the visitors unaware, but Baraing's shot was easily collected by the Thai stopper. In the fifth minute after the restart, Chonburi reasserted themselves due to some sloppy defensive play. Chansopheak's backpass was too weak, Paso challenged Samnang as the keeper went for it with his feet and the Thai striker rolled in the loose ball for his, and his team's fourth. Choun Chanchav replaced the limping Ouk Sovann, and Crown awoke from their slumber when Senteang got to Sakrovy's through pass but couldn't steer his shot on target. The partnership worked a treat a minute later as Sakrovy swerved past two defenders and rolled a pass into the path of Senteang, who made no mistake with his shot from ten yards to make it 4-2 on 57 minutes. The goal sparked the crowd into life, Orn Chanpolin sent a long distance effort into the keeper's hands and Chonburi quickly picked up three bookings for late challenges as Crown raised the tempo. In between, Sakrovy's free-kick to the far post was an inch or two from Chhaya's desperate dive but the extra effort was negated as Chonburi broke to extend their lead on 61 minutes. Authairatsamee's pass sent Paidaen sprinting clear from the half-way line, with a hint of offside, and the striker calmly slid his shot under Samnang's dive for their fifth. Paso sent a free-kick a foot wide before Crown again raised hopes when Chhaya won the ball, fed Senteang and he lashed the ball in from fifteen yards on 64 minutes. The goals were coming thick and fast, and as soon as the home team were looking to get back into the game, Chonburi showed their clinical side to put it further out of reach. Just a minute after Senteang's second, Paso netted his fifth and the best goal of the game, as a superb one-touch move carved open the home defence, leaving the hotshot to smash the ball home to make it 6-3. Pov Ponvuthy slipped in Senteang and the striker was denied an attempt on goal by Jantod's timely intervention.

Chonburi were not finished and Paidaen made Chanchav's weak clearance look even worse by quickly poking the ball past Samnang and in off the post on 69 minutes. Baraing came to the rescue to deny Nititorn Sripramarn with a last-ditch tackle, and Samnang held Paidaen's low drive as Chonburi created havoc each time they attacked. A flurry of substitutions allowed both teams some breathing space, but a rare mistake by Baraing saw Peerapat Kaminthong strike a shot which Samnang blocked well. The visitors final goal of the game came with three minutes of the match to go. Panawat Ketmala sped onto a through ball, evaded Chanchav and slipped the ball under Samnang to give Chonburi eight goals in a game for the second week running. Before the final whistle, home substitutes Theang Chhaya and Yeu Muslim both sent shots over the cross-bar, but the home side were well beaten by a team looking serious contenders for their second successive trophy. The Crown Academy must travel to Thailand for the return game in a week's time. Coach Dary gave this assessment. "Both teams didn't play their best but Chonburi finished their chances well and they have strikers who can do that. First half we scored early on but then we took it too easy, not serious or strong enough and let them score three easy goals. In the second-half I was more pleased with how we played, though whenever we scored, we made a mistake and they scored again. We played some good football, everyone wanted to fight back, which is what I want to see. Overall, we should do better than this." Crown donated $270 from the gate receipts and 60 One World Futbols to the Cambodian Center for the Protection of Children's Rights, from where thirty children joined us for the match.
PPCFC Academy v Chonburi: S Samnang, Noeut (Chansopheak 46), Phearath, Baraing, Sovann (Chanchav 50), Chanpolin, Sakrovy (V Samnang 87), Rozak (T Chhaya 68), Ponvuthy, K Chhaya, Senteang (Muslim 75). Subs not used: Chanvuthy, Piphop. Bookings: None. MOTM: Baraing - fought for everything. Goals: Sakrovy (2), Senteang 2 (52, 64).   

The Chonburi starting line-up v PPCFC

Our guests were from the Cambodian Center for the Protection of Children's Rights

3rd success on the road

PPCFC v Mandalay, back row, LtoR: S Samnang, Baraing, Chanchav, Senteang, Titchhy, Chanpolin (capt). Front Row: Sodavid, Piphop, Ponvuthy, Noeut, Phearath - click to enlarge

Match Result: Phnom Penh Crown Academy 1 Mandalay Academy - Myanmar 0 (Asia U-16 Champions Trophy).
 Taking their away victories in the Asia U-16 Champions Trophy to three, the Crown Academy produced another hard working away performance and will return home Sunday with another three points to their name after Chhuot Senteang's goal separated the two teams in Yangon. It was Senteang's 4th goal of the ACT campaign and will give the team a confidence boost with two more matches left to play. The Academy were without captain Ouk Sovann and Kim Chhaya, both ruled out with leg injuries earlier in the day and were looking to add to their victories on the road in China and Laos. They began brightly and went close with attempts from Chhuot Senteang and captain Orn Chanpolin. It was the same two players who split open the Mandalay defence on 37 minutes with Chanpolin's precise pass finding Senteang inside the box and he made sure with a great finish. After the break, the home side came into the game more, putting Crown under pressure but were restructed to ineffectual long range shooting that caused little worry for goalkeeper Svang Samnang. At the other end Senteang and substitute Ken Chansopheak had opportunities to extend the lead but couldn't make their efforts count. After their third win on their travels, coach Bouy Dary offered up praise for his team's hard work, team spirit and their adventurous style of football, particularly in the first-half. Senteang, Pov Ponvuthy, Sraing Titchhy and Chanpolin came in for particular praise from the coach. The Crown Academy will now finish with two matches against last year's champions and Group B leaders Chonburi from Thailand, both home and away. 
PPCFC Academy line-up: S Samnang, Noeut, Phearath, Chanchav, Baraing, Chanpolin, Sodavid (Rozak 90), Piphop, Ponvuthy (Chansopheak 84), Titchhy, Senteang (Muslim 78). Subs not used: Chanvuthy, Sakrovy, V Samnang, T Chhaya. Bookings: None. MOTM: Chanpolin - played a captain's role. Goal: Senteang (37).

Miracle required

The current ACT2014 Group B table

The Academy of Phnom Penh Crown travel to Myanmar this weekend to play their third last Asia U-16 Champions Trophy fixture in Yangon against the Mandalay Academy. They still have a very slim chance of being one of the two teams that progress from Group B into the competition's semi-finals, but that chance will be extinguished if Thailand's Chonburi beat Guangdong FA from China this weekend, which is expected. Not only would it need a miracle for the Chinese to win their first match, but Crown would then need to beat Chonburi both home and away. A very tall order considering Chonburi lead the group with an undefeated record after seven matches and were also the champions of the ACT 2013 edition. They are undoubtedly one of the very best Academy teams in Southeast Asia. Bouy Dary's youngsters travel to Myanmar boosted by two consecutive wins, in Laos and last week at home to Guangdong, and will be looking for revenge after Mandalay won 1-0 in Phnom Penh a few weeks ago. Captain Ouk Sovann and Kim Chhaya are doubtful with injuries but have travelled with the squad. Whatever the outcome, they face Chonburi in the final home game of the competition in a week's time (12 July) and will expect a big crowd for the game, with the public always keen to witness a Cambodian victory over Thai opponents.

Academy success at home

PPCFC Academy v Guangdong, back row, LtoR: Samnang, Chanpolin, Sodavid, Chhaya, Titchhy, Sovann (capt). Front Row: Baraing, Chansopheak, Noeut, Piphop, Ponvuthy - click to enlarge

Match Result: Phnom Penh Crown Academy 2 Guangdong FA (China) 1 (Asia U-16 Champions Trophy).
The Crown Academy were still searching for their first win at home, with two victories on the road already chalked up, and they faced bottom of the table Guangdong from China, without a point from their matches so far. Chhuot Senteang was on the bench with a leg injury, so Sraing Titchhy took his place in attack. The pitch was slippery with Crown seeing the lion's share of the ball and Guangdong conceding a string of early free-kicks. Suon Noeut fired well wide early on, Titchhy had a shot blocked and Seut Baraing's free-kick was grabbed low down by the visiting keeper. Crown were using the flanks to good effect and Kim Chhaya's cross was laid back by Titchhy, only for In Sodavid's shot to lack the power to test the keeper. Titchhy was snuffed out as he shaped to shoot and then keeper Pang Jiajun collected Noeut's cross off the striker's toes. It was all Crown until Guangdong had a great chance on 17 minutes but Svang Samnang was alert to deny visiting captain Chen Guokang. Moments later and Titchhy's drilled 20-yard drive was pushed out by Jiajun, who was also equal to Noeut's goal-bound effort, tipping it over the cross-bar. Sodavid saw another attempt clear the bar before Crown finally made their dominance count just two minutes before the break. Titchhy and Orn Chanpolin combined with some neat touches and Chanpolin looked up before sending a dipping drive over Jiajun's head from twenty yards out for the game's opening goal. Crown continued to push on with another Sodavid effort going straight to Jiajun and Titchhy's left-foot effort taking a deflection across the face of goal.

Crown came out strongly at the start of the second-half with Chhaya sending a 25-yard free-kick straight at Jiajun and Noeut causing problems on the flanks, with Jiajun punching his dangerous cross clear. Titchhy was set up by Men Piphop but miskicked under pressure, before the visitors stunned the home crowd into silence. Fifteen minutes into the second period and some sloppy defending allowed Li Guohao to cross, Yang Quan's shot was pushed out by Samnang only for Li Canming to be waiting to tap the ball home at the far post. The equaliser had come against the run of play, which prompted Crown coach Bouy Dary to ring the changes, with top scorer Senteang sent on to add power up front. Titchhy burst into action with a dazzling run but his shot was blocked, with Senteang setting up Chhaya, whose shot was held at the second attempt. Moments later Senteang charged down a clearance by Guokang and found himself one on one with Jiajun, but the keeper stood his ground and kept out the striker's shot with his body. With seven minutes of the game remaining, off-the-ball fisticuffs in the Crown penalty area saw home substitute Mat Sakrovy cautioned and Guangdong skipper Guokang red-carded for his second offence. It was just the encouragement the home side needed. With their next attack, Chhaya's long corner to the far post saw Baraing arrive late and the central defender smashed his shot past Jiajun without hesitation, with just four minutes left to play. The crowd erupted, though they were less vocal moments later as Yao Yongrun shaped to shoot, only for Ouk Sovann to dive in to block the effort just six yards from goal. There was still time for Sakrovy to fire wide and for Chhaya to see his shot touched onto the foot of the post by Jiajun, who then caught Noeut's long range effort at the second attempt. The match ended with Crown collecting their first win on home soil in the Asia U-16 Champions Trophy and leaving coach Dary to comment: "First-half we played okay and created some chances but didn't have enough numbers in the box. We changed some players in the second-half and we deserved to win. But at the start of the second-half we were not good at all. We were asleep but woke up after they scored and created a few chances. We should be happy with the result but we know we can do better. We remain in 3rd position and for the last 3 games we have to fight really hard." 
PPCFC Academy v Guangdong: S Samnang, Chansopheak (Chanchav 75), K Chhaya (Muslim 90+4), Baraing, Sovann, Chanpolin, Sodavid (Rozak 90+3), Piphop, Ponvuthy (Senteang 70), Noeut, Titchhy (Sakrovy 80). Subs not used: Chanvuthy, T Chhaya. Booking: Sakrovy. MOTM: In Sodavid - powerhouse performance. Goals: Chanpolin (43), Baraing (86).

Muslim nets winner in Laos

PPCFC v Lao Toyota, back row, LtoR: Titchhy, Chanpolin, S Samnang, Senteang, K Chhaya, Sovann (capt). Front Row: Ponvuthy, Noeut, Sodavid, Baraing, Piphop - click to enlarge

Result: Phnom Penh Crown Academy 1 Lao Toyota - Laos 0 (Asia U-16 Champions Trophy).
Academy coach Bouy Dary was able to select his strongest line-up for this away match in Vientiane, the capital of Laos. A crowd of 2,022 watched at the National University Stadium, including a continegent of supporters of locally-based Cambodians. The match-winning goal came courtesy of substitute Yeu Muslim with just three minutes of the match remaining, from Suon Noeut's right wing cross. It was Crown's second success on the road in three matches, having also claimed victory in China on the opening day of the campaign. Coach Dary's view at the final whistle; "I think our desire to win was the difference. We dominated the first half and we should have scored a few goals in the half. In the 2nd half I changed a few players for tactical reasons and the boys showed tremendous fighting spirit, which is why we deservedly won the game." 
PPCFC Academy v Lao Toyota: S.Samnang, Noeut, K Chhaya, Baraing, Sovann, Chanpolin, Sodavid (Chanchav 90), Piphop, Titchhy (Chansopheak 63), Ponvuthy (Rozak 86), Senteang (Muslim 69). Subs not used: Chanvuthy, Phearath, Sakrovy. Bookings: None. Goal: Muslim (87)

Out-of-sorts Academy go down

PPCFC Academy v Mandalay, back row, LtoR: Chanvuthy, Chhaya, Senteang, Chanpolin, Titchhy, Sovann (capt). Front: Sodavid, Noeut, Ponvuthy, Piphop, Chanchav - click to enlarge

Result: Phnom Penh Crown Academy 0 Mandalay Academy Myanmar 1 (Asia U-16 Champions Trophy).
Academy coach Bouy Dary was forced into making changes to his line-up with goalkeeper Sem Mesa and defensive rock Seut Baraing picking up knocks. That meant starts for Kong Chanvuthy in goal, Choun Chanchav alongside skipper Ouk Sovann and a return for fit-again Suon Noeut. Blazing sunshine and a large crowd greeted the two teams at the kick-off at Olympic Stadium on Saturday morning. The opening stages of the game were cagey with neither team threatening until In Sodavid broke into the penalty box and delivered a low cross that evaded Chhuot Senteang by a matter of inches on fifteen minutes. Most of the play in the attacking third came from Crown with Suon Noeut sending a cross into the hands of Mandalay goalkeeper Sann Sat Naing and Pyae Maung putting an end to Senteang's charge forwards with a timely intervention. On 23 minutes, Sodavid worked himself Crown's best chance when he moved on Senteang's pass, sidestepped Zar Nay Thu's challenge but blasted the ball over the cross-bar, when placement was a better option. A minute later, Mandalay's Moe Min Zaw lobbed his side's first serious effort over the top from distance. Pov Ponvuthy caused consternation in the opposition box with his dash and cross but Senteang lost his footing at the crucial moment. Moe Min Zaw popped up on the edge of the Crown box to unleash a fizzing low drive which Chanvuthy moved quickly to push aside, and as the Myanmar side found their feet at last, Hein Phyo Win saw his glancing header from a corner go well wide. The first-half ended with Orn Chanpolin's shot blocked by a defender after Sodavid's turn created the opening. No goals at the break and an unusally subdued Crown display.

Mandalay took advantage of Crown's failure to clear the ball as it bobbled around the edge of their area, with the second-half just over a minute old. Moe Min Zaw saw his chance for glory and took it, lobbing the ball over Chanvuthy for the opening goal, stunning the home crowd into silence. Referee Suhaimi Ismail from Malaysia consulted his assistant after Crown's Chanchav was floored in his own box before a corner, and flashed yellow cards to both Chanchav and Zwe Thet Paing for the altercation. Moments later, as Sraing Titchhy moved onto Sodavid's through ball, he went over a defender's leg only to see Ismail's hand held high holding a yellow card, for apparent simulation. Crown had improved on their first-half showing but were finding it hard to make head-way until Ponvuthy was felled and Sovann's curling free-kick from 25 yards was held at the foot of the post by Naing. A poor kick from Chanvuthy gave Mandalay hope but Oakkwr Bo was flagged offside, and at the other end Naing was quickly out to smother the danger from Sodavid's break into the box. With half an hour gone, a three minute stoppage saw Crown keeper Chanvuthy forced to leave the field, after he bravely dived at the feet of Aung Phyo Thar and got a kick in the nose for his troubles. Thar was cautioned and Svang Samnang got his first taste of action, as Chanvuthy's replacement. Senteang's spurt into the box was ended when his weak shot was scooped up by Naing, while Samnang's footwork let him down and Aung Pyae Ko's shot went wide with the keeper scampering back between the sticks. Crown's passing, one of their normal strengths, wasn't at its best but a perfect Kim Chhaya cross, with twelve minutes to go, found the forehead of Senteang but the striker sent his header wide of the upright. Holding his head in his hands, Senteang knew the opportunity was a game-changer. A series of substitutions - ten in all in the second-half - disrupted the flow of the match and despite shots from distance by Chanpolin and Sodavid, Mandalay held out for their first victory in this year's competition. An error of judgement by referee Ishmail saw just two minutes added on at the end when the player changes, injuries, a water break and time-wasting suggested at least 8 minutes would've been more appropriate.

Crown coach Bouy Dary gave his thoughts at the final whistle. "The first half we started really slowly and didn't play the way we wanted to play. We weren't at 100% and didn't show enough spirit. I want them to play good football, regardless of the result, but 1st half we didn't do that today. We tried things too quickly, looking for the runs of our striker and it didn't work. Then we started the 2nd half too sleepy and let them score too easily. I warned them, close them down at the edge of the box. We didn't. But after they scored, we played much better, as a team, showed a good spirit, even though we didn't score. Its important with the youths, that they play together as a team, enjoy the game and continue to develop. I think the referee should learn from this game - in the 2nd half there were 10 substitutions, lots of breaks and injuries, but he added just 2 minutes - I don't know what he was thinking! I talked to him and he just said sorry. Next week we have a very difficult game against Frenz, they are very physical, but we have a plan, we know what to do and we want to get a good result."
PPCFC v Mandalay: Chanvuthy (S Samnang 75), Noeut, Chhaya (V Samnang 90), Chanchav, Sovann, Chanpolin (Muslim 90), Sodavid, Piphop (Sakrovy 59), Ponvuthy (Phearath 71), Titchhy (Baraing 83), Senteang. Subs not used: Chansopheak. Bookings: Chhaya, Chanchav, Titchhy. MOTM: Sodavid - always active, involved and available.

Academy frustrated

PPCFC v Lao Toyota, back row, LtoR: Mesa, Titchhy, Senteang, Baraing, Chanpolin, Sovann (capt). Front: Chhaya, Sodavid, Chansopheak, Piphop, Ponvuthy - click to enlarge

Result: Phnom Penh Crown Academy 1 Lao Toyota 1 (Asia U-16 Champions Trophy).
For their first home game in the ACT2014, Crown welcomed Lao Toyota to Olympic Stadium for a morning kick-off, bathed in the morning sunshine and watched by a large crowd. In the third minute, the visitors had the first shot which Sem Mea collected easily, and soon after the opposition keeper beat Chhuot Senteang in a race for a pass forward by Sraing Titchhy. Kim Chhaya fired the loose ball well wide from 25 yards out. Some strong, and illegal challenges from the Lao team produced the first of three yellow cards with just twelve minutes on the clock. Pov Ponvuthy was busy on the left flank and his neat ball gave Senteang a run into the box only for his left-foot attempt to go straight into the hands of Saymanolinh Paseuth. Ponvuthy tried his luck without success before Crown's loud claims for a penalty were waived aside on 17 minutes. In Sodavid burst into the area only to go over the foot of Thongmany Panyaphong, who needed treatment in the aftermath. Just two minutes later, another Sodavid spurt, onto a precise Chhaya pass, opened up another opportunity and a left-foot drive beat the Lao keeper for the game's opening goal. The large audience made themselves heard as Crown continued to dominate proceedings. Ponvuthy took aim but fired wide from distance and was then carried off after another clumsy tackle on the tricky winger. Yet another foul on Ponvuthy gave Ouk Sovann a clear view of the Lao goal with one of his free-kick specials from 25 yards out, but Paseuth dived to catch the attempt at the foot of his post. The first real attempt from the visitors, with ten minutes of the opening half to go, saw Thatsapphone Bouttavong send a 25 yard effort over the head of Mesa and clip the top of the cross-bar. Another spell of intense pressure from Crown gave Men Piphop sight of goal but his shot was gathered safely, as was a quick break and teasing cross from Senteang. Another Sovann free-kick from the half-way line was easily caught and Paseuth then earned the admiration of his teammates when he stood up and denied Crown their best chance of a second goal. In the second minute of stoppage time, Orn Chanpolin's long pass sent Titchhy racing away from his own half, but he waited too long to make his mind up and the keeper closed in to make the save on the edge of the area. 1-nil to the home side at the interval.

The Ponvuthy-Senteang combination opened up the Lao defense in the second minute after the restart, but again, Senteang's left-foot strike wasn't strong enough to beat Paseuth. Titchhy's surge past two defenders got the crowd on their feet but his low cross evaded Senteang by mere inches. Six minutes played and Crown were rocked by a sucker punch. Sovann's attempted clearance was charged down by Laithaya Sisongkham and fell into the path of Sinthaphone Phanvongsa, who sped towards goal, rounded Mesa and rolled the ball in for an undeserved equaliser. Crown heads dropped both on and off the pitch, as the goal was met by stunned silence. Less than a minute later, Senteang's poke forwards saw Titchhy get a touch before being clattered by Paseuth, but the referee refused to give anything other than a goal-kick. Five minutes later, Titchhy showed his quick feet and a clean pair of heels to three opponents, released Senteang with a perfect pass, but as the striker rounded Paseuth, he lost his footing and his weak shot was easily cleared off the goal-line by Panyaphong. Paseuth was again in the thick of the action as Sodavid's low center was smothered at the second attempt under pressure. The limping Titchhy was replaced by Vat Samnang and almost immediately his 30-yard shot tested the Lao keeper. In a rare Lao venture forward, Phanvongsa cleared the cross-bar from way out, but it was still Crown making most of the running, though tiring legs didn't help their cause. Another Samnang snap-shot from distance flew just wide and as Senteang created havoc in the back-line, Sath Rozak sent his fierce effort over the top. The final goal-bound effort came from a Seut Baraing free-kick which Paseuth held onto and the Lao goalkeeper was easily the visitor's stand-out player of the match. Tempers flared momentarily just before the end but was no more than a result of the agonizingly hot weather and Crown's frustration that they didn't take advantage of their superiority for long periods of the match. Coach Bouy Dary was also straight to the point in his after match comments; "The first half we did really well, we did what we wanted to do, created a lot of chances and we really should've scored three. The second period we started okay, but then made a mistake and the boys became shaky and didn't play the way we want to play. Our opponents didn't create anything, they weren't dangerous and we handed them a point. I'm pretty disappointed, we should've done better at home."
PPCFC v Lao Toyota; Mesa, Chansopheak (Chanchav 88), Chhaya, Baraing, Sovann, Chanpolin, Sodavid (Rozak 68), Piphop, Ponvuthy (Muslim 83), Titchhy (V Samnang 65), Senteang. Subs not used: Chanvuthy, Phearath, Sakrovy. Bookings: Piphop (simulation). MOTM: Sodavid - a goal and strong performance. Goal: Sodavid (19).

Injury-time agony

PPCFC v Frenz, back row, LtoR: Mesa, Chanpolin, Sodavid, Titchhy, Senteang, Sovann (capt). Front: Ponvuthy, Noeut, Piphop, Baraing, Chhaya - click to enlarge

Result: Phnom Penh Crown Academy 2 Frenz United Malaysia 3 (Asia U-16 Champions Trophy).
Phnom Penh Crown Academy's preparation for one of their toughest assignments in this season's Asia U-16 Champions Trophy, playing in the backyard of one of the favourites, and the competition sponsors, Malaysia's Frenz United, was ruined by torrential rain, causing the match to be put back three hours and putting the playing conditions on a par with last week's visit to China. At this rate, the youngsters will be doing their midweek training in a swimming pool. That said, Frenz were reeling from a defeat to Chonburi the week before and were obviously looking to put that right in front of their home crowd. Crown coach Bouy Dary made no changes to his starting line-up, that won 2-1 against Guangdoing last weekend. With the pitch covered in water just below the surface, a passing game was impossible and Frenz used the conditions to their advantage as they pressed hard from the start. Crown goalkeeper Sem Mesa would be the busiest player on the pitch in the opening half and in the second minute he pushed aside a 30-yard stinger from Zuki Hafizuddin. With the home side dominating early possession, Fikri Syafiq tried his luck twice from long distance, with both shots easily clearing the cross-bar but the pressure paid off in the 8th minute when Ismawi Rahman sent in an inviting cross and Azhar Akhmar got between two defenders and deftly touched the ball past Mesa, for the opening goal. Frenz captain Razak Naaim broke free but his low drive was gathered by Mesa before a long range free-kick from Ouk Sovann was Crown's first real attempt on goal in the fifteenth minute.

In their next attack, on 19 minutes, Crown levelled when Men Piphop's pass forward went under the foot of Salleh Hafizi and Chhuot Senteang took advantage by calmly sliding his shot wide of the despairing Frenz keeper Zaini Adam. Akhmar went looking for his second goal but a combination of Suon Noeut and Sovann blocked his way to goal, and at the other end, Sraing Titchhy's pull back to Senteang was closed down and the shot blocked. Twice in a minute, Mesa stood firm to deny Rahman's surge into the box and fierce drive at the near post, and again, batting away Naaim's attempt after Crown failed to clear their lines. Crosses into the Crown penalty area were causing concern and Hafizuddin should've done better with one that fell to him at the far post. On 41 minutes the advantage swung in the visitors favour as Senteang capitalised on an error and broke clear, only for Rasmizal Amirul to bring him down from behind, receive his second yellow card and an early bath. A straight red card should've been the decision. Sovann's free-kick attempt, from 25 yards out, brought out a good diving save from Adam. From the corner, the keeper looked to have pushed Pov Ponvuthy in the back but the referee waived play on, as Orn Chanpolin lobbed the ball back in, missing the cross-bar by inches. In the first minute of time added on, Crown's pressure paid off as Chanpolin's pass was fluffed by Suhaimi Syazwi and Titchhy took full advantage, rolling the ball coolly into the far corner to give the Academy a half-time lead.

The second-half by comparison to the opening 45 minutes, began rather tamely. Crown were the first to try their luck when Ponvuthy touched in In Sodavid but his shot went wide. From a Sodavid corner, Kim Chhaya arrived late but sent his drive well over the cross-bar. Frenz made a series of changes to freshen up their ten-men, but again it was Sodavid who sent his shot into the arms of Adam from distance. With their first real dangerous move of the half, with fifteen minutes on the clock remaining, Frenz equalised. A corner was directed on target by Fadzrul Danel but Chhaya was on hand to head it clear, only for Hafizi to steer the ball over the goal-line as Crown failed to snuff out the danger. Nekmat Aidiel was fortunate to escape with just a yellow card for a two-footed lunge on Piphop as the referee continued his policy of leniency. Crown introduced three new faces, though it was Noeut who was stretchered off after an elbow in the face, not seen by the officials. With the match in time added on, Frenz made one final push for victory and it paid off. It was in the sixth minute of stoppage time that Aidel's high ball into the box saw substitute Jeffery Fareez get the jump on Noeut and steered his header into the far corner. It was a crushing blow for the gutsy Crown Academy players as the final whistle blew almost immediately. Crown Academy coach Bouy Dary offered these words after the final whistle. "The players are very disappointed and there were lots of tears after the game. The boys need to adapt with the type of situation we found ourselves in, leading and with the opposition having only 10 players. We need to play to our style, keep the ball more and find the space to attack. We don't need to hurry. We knew they would attack us because they were at home and they lost in their first game - and we saw they tried to do everything to win the game. It was tough out there for our players. We need to look back at the game closely and see how we can improve for the future." PPCFC v Frenz: Mesa, Noeut, Chhaya, Baraing, Sovann, Chanpolin (Rozak 90+5), Sodavid, Piphop, Titchhy (Muslim 85), Ponvuthy (V Samnang 87), Senteang. Subs not used: Chanvuthy, S Samnang, Chanchav, Phearath. Bookings: None. MOTM: Sovann - calm at the back. Goals: Senteang (19), Titchhy (45+1).

What a weekend

The Academy U-14s receive their winners trophy in Singapore

U-14s BRING HOME TROPHY
To make it a hat-trick of successes for Phnom Penh Crown at the weekend, the Academy U-14s who travelled to Singapore to play in the prestigious Singapore Soccer Sixes Youth Tournament, will return home this afternoon having retained the championship for the 2nd year running, scoring 27 goals in 5 matches and conceding just 2 goals. In the group matches, the U-14s thrashed Singapore Muhammadiyah A 6-0, Singapore Muhammadiyah B 9-0 and Bali 9-0 but lost to the Thai team 2-1. That meant PPCFC and the Thai Youth Home team from Phuket met in yesterday's final and this time the U-14s came out on top, 2-0. Mao Piseth totalled an individual tally of 15 goals in the competition.
Here are their results:
v Youth Football Home Thailand Lost 1-2 – Panha
v Muhammadiyah A Singapore Won 6-0 – Piseth 5, Saphy
v Muhammadiyah B Singapore Won 9-0 – Piseth 4, N David, Chanmony 2, Panha 2
v Bali Sports Foundation Indonesia Won 9-0 – Piseth 5, Chanmony 3, Kakada
Final: v Youth Football Home Thailand Won 2-0 – Piseth, N David.

Victory in China

PPCFC line-up, back row, LtoR: Mesa, Senteang, Chanpolin, Sodavid, K Chhaya, Sovann (capt). Front Row: Titchhy, Ponvuthy, Noeut, Piphop, Baraing - click to enlarge

Result: Phnom Penh Crown Academy 2 Guangdong FA China 1 (Asia U-16 Champions Trophy).
Phnom Penh Crown Academy recorded their first ACT success, and they did it the hard way, winning 2-1 on foreign soil. After going through last season’s competition without a victory, that all changed Saturday afternoon in Guangzhou, China. Against the Provincial FA Academy, Bouy Dary’s youngsters showed they learned lessons from last year and did moire than enough to win the opening game of this season’s Trophy. Crown dominated much of the possession and most of the chances in the first half, and though the second half was effectively ruined by torrential rain and strong winds, goals by Chhuot Senteang and captain Ouk Sovann carried the Khmers  through to success.
Crown began strongly and Pov Ponvuthy tested the Guangdong keeper with a thirty-yard drive that he tipped wide in the fifth minute. Suon Noeut and Kim Chhaya pushed up from full-back and sent shots wide of the mark before Seut Baraing’s long through ball nearly fell kindly for Sraing Titchhy, but the keeper intervened. In Sodavid back-headed the ball into the net from Sovann’s free-kick on 12 minutes but the linesman’s flag was raised and the effort didn’t count. Soon after Senteang latched onto Sodavid’s pass but was challenged as he shot and his mistimed drive rolled a few yards wide. With 22 minutes gone, Crown hearts stopped briefly when the referee from Malaysia gave the home team an indirect free-kick on Crown’s six-yard box, judging Sovann’s touch to keeper Sem Mesa as a back-pass. As the team lined up on the goal-line, Guangdong rolled the ball across the face of goal but Mesa was out quickly to smother Li Canming’s shot and the danger was averted. Orn Chanpolin and Titchhy tried their luck to no avail, until Crown deservedly got their noses in front. On 35 minutes Sraing Titchhy spotted Chhuot Senteang’s run from the halfway line and as the striker approached the penalty area, he lifted the ball over the advancing goalkeeper and into the empty net. A calm finish and one which Crown were worthy of. Ponvuthy tried his luck again from distance but the shot was deflected before Baraing robbed a defender in his own box when he failed to clear a corner, only to see his left-foot fizzer miss the near post by a few inches. The last action of an enthralling first-half came when Titchhy chipped a lovely ball into Senteang’s path in the box, only for the home keeper, Pang Jiajun to smother the ball at his feet. Half-time, 1-0 in favour of the Crown Academy and looking good for their lead.

In the second minute after the restart, Crown pressed again. Chhaya’s shot from a corner and pass by Sodavid, was hastily cleared from the goal-line by Tang Ruiqian and Chhaya sent the resultant corner well over the cross-bar. With the floodlights on as dark clouds grew overhead, Senteang robbed a defender and broke into the box, only to be tackled as he shot. At the other end, Mesa was off his line smartish to deny Liang Jinhun. Within seconds, Guangdong unsportingly failed to return the ball from a throw-in, pressed quickly and it needed a saving tackle from Sovann to deny Chen Guokang. After a couple of minutes of very heavy rain, referee Syed Kamar called the two teams off the pitch for a ten-minute break while the rain subsided. It did briefly but continued from the restart and well beyond the final whistle, being joined by thunder and lightning late on. The pitch became waterlogged in places and made it impossible for either team to play football. Sovann tried his luck with a forty-yard free-kick but it sailed wide, as most of the play was stuck in the middle of the park.
With ten minutes of normal time remaining. On the pitch for less than a minute, Vat Samnang was sent clear by Chhaya and the Guangdong keeper came out and flattened him, just outside the area. A yellow card was deserved and only the presence of a defender saved him from a red. Up stepped captain Ouk Sovann and with one of his trademark inch-perfect free-kicks, his dead-ball effort was too strong for the keeper to keep out and Crown went two goals ahead. Crown players were going down every few minutes, most of them with cramp, not helped by the previous day’s full-day of flying and sitting in airports. Guangdong netted in the final minute of normal time when the ball dropped like a stone in the area and Liao Jintao forced it home. In the four minutes of injury time, Li Guohao’s inswinging corner was tipped onto the bar by Sem Mesa, who then dived bravely at the feet of Chen Junzhou to see out the match and a Crown success, celebrated by the players with knee and body-slides across the waterlogged pitch.
PPCFC v Guangdong: Mesa, Noeut, K Chhaya, Baraing, Sovann, Chanpolin (Chanchav 87), Sodavid, Piphop (Rozak 68), Ponvuthy (Muslim 82) Titchhy, Senteang (V Samnang 76). Subs not used: Chanvuthy, S Samnang. Bookings: Titchhy. MOTM: Baraing – rock solid throughout, though it was a tough choice as so many players performed admirably. Goals: Senteang (35), Sovann (80).

ACT launch & fixtures

PPCFC's Ly Heang collecting a memento from officials and Steve McMahon

The official launch of the Asia U-16 Champions Trophy 2014 took place Wednesday in Kuala Lumpur. 12 teams from the Asian region, 68 matches, 40 of which will be televised live between 17 May and 30 August. Another fantastic opportunity for the Phnom Penh Crown Academy youngsters to perform on an Asian-wide stage and to gain the experience and exposure that will make them better players for the future. Crown open their ACT matches in China against Guangdong FA on Saturday 17 May. Former England and Liverpool star Steve McMahon was on hand to join the launch with representatives from each team including Crown's Ly Heang, their general secretary. Find out more from the ACT website @ http://www.act.frenzunited.com.my/.

The ACT fixtures have now been confirmed and all of Crown's home games will be played at the Olympic Stadium with a 9am morning kick-off time, to avoid clashing with the Metfone C-League matches.

Sat 17 May v Guangdong FA China – away 4pm (match televised)
Sat 24 May v Frenz Malaysia B – away 8.30pm (match televised)
Sat 31 May v Lao Toyota – Olympic Stadium 9am (live on Bayon TV)
Sat 7 Jun v Mandalay Utd Myanmar – Olympic Stadium 9am (live on Bayon TV)
Sat 14 Jun v Frenz Malaysia B – Olympic Stadium 9am (live on Bayon TV)
Sat 21 Jun v Lao Toyota – away 5pm
Sat 28 Jun v Guangdong FA China – Olympic Stadium 9am
Sat 5 Jul v Mandalay Myanmar – away 4pm
Sat 12 Jul v Chonburi Thailand – Olympic Stadium 9am
Mon 21 Jul v Chonburi Thailand – away 5pm.
The semis will be 9 & 16 August and the 2-legged final on 23 and 30 August.

Crown's ACT fixtures

ASIA CHAMPIONS TROPHY 2014.
The list of fixtures in this season's edition of the region's most exciting youth competition for Under-16 players, the Asia Champions Trophy 2014, beginning in May, have been amended. The new fixture list is below. 12 teams from 11 different countries in Asia including new teams from China and India will join this year. It promises to be another fantastic competition for our Academy youngsters with matches on a home and away basis against U-16 teams from China, Thailand, Malaysia, Myanmar and Laos. Drawn in Group B, each team plays 10 matches and the top two teams from each group progress to the semi-finals. Here is the schedule of matches for the Phnom Penh Crown Academy U-16s, with venues/times to be decided very soon;Sat 17 May v Guangdong FA China - away
Sat 24 May v Frenz Malaysia B - away
Sat 31 May v Lao Toyota - home (live on Bayon TV)
Sat 7 Jun v Mandalay Utd Myanmar - home (live on Bayon TV)
Sat 14 Jun v Frenz Malaysia B - home (live on Bayon TV)
Sat 21 Jun v Lao Toyota - away
Sat 28 Jun v Guangdong FA China - home
Sat 5 Jul v Mandalay Myanmar - away
Sat 12 Jul v Chonburi Thailand - home
Mon 21 Jul v Chonburi Thailand - away.