Third time lucky

Chroy Changvar, back row, LtoR: Chanchav, Sovann, Soksela, Titchhy, Senteang, Chanpolin. Front: Chhaya, Rozak, Samnang, Sodavid, Phearath - click to enlarge

Result: Chroy Changvar (Phnom Penh Crown Academy U-17s) 3 Tuol Kork (Svay Rieng B) 2 (Hun Sen Cup).
The Academy U-17s finished their Hun Sen Cup competition with a victory over old foes Svay Rieng, though both teams played under the name of city districts, in their first real taste of senior football. The Academy's two previous defeats to Kirivong and Albirex meant they could not qualify for the next round of the competition, so coach Bouy Dary made a number of personnel changes. Crown controlled the match for long periods with Tuol Kork offering token resistance with counterattacks. Sraing Titchhy missed a Kim Chhaya cross by inches and Chhuot Senteang's 25-yard effort crashed against the cross bar but without goal-line technology it was impossible to know if the ball crossed the line as it bounced down. An error by Choun Chanchav gifted the ball to Tuol Kork and An Sokchea made him pay with a sweet strike into the far corner for a goal against the run of play on 21 minutes. That quickly led to two competent saves from Sem Mesa in the Tuol Kork goal, a former Crown keeper, as he denied In Sodavid's long range effort and then Long Phearath's burst into the box. The expected equaliser arrived on 31 minutes as Ouk Sovann produced yet another of his trademark free-kick specials, getting the ball over the wall and the keeper's despairing dive with pace and precision from 20 yards out. Lionel Messi would've been proud of him. Keo Soksela made himself big to deny Sokchea with the last kick of the half as the teams went in level. 

Just 29 seconds into the second-half and Senteang raced clear onto Yeu Muslim's pass and rolled in his team's second with consummate ease. Muslim's shot lacked power to beat Mesa, while Soksela was down quickly to deny Sokchea at the near post. Sath Rozak poked in number three from close range after Sodavid's shot was saved by Mesa on 70 minutes. Chhaya's 30-yard run along the left flank sliced open the Tuol Kork defence to create the opening. Cheam Ratana nicked a goal back eight minutes later as the Academy failed to clear their lines but the Academy were on top and only another great save from Mesa denied Sodavid from netting at close range. Pov Ponvuthy was also denied by the keeper who then watched Senteang's audacious 35-yard lob sail just inches over the bar. A deserved success for Crown, though too late to progress to the next stage of the Hun Sen Cup, as Kirivong claimed top spot with a 1-0 win over Albirex.
Chroy Changvar (PPCFC U-17s): Soksela, Sovann (Noeut 46), Phearath, V Samnang, Chanchav, Chanpolin, Sodavid, Rozak (Ponvuthy 83), Chhaya, Titchhy (Muslim 46), Senteang. Subs not used: Chanvuthy, Sakrovy, Chansopheak, Baraing, Noron, Piphop. Goals: Sovann (31), Senteang (46), Rozak (70). MOTM: Chanpolin.

Cup debut defeat

Chroy Changvar/PPCFC U-17s, back row, LtoR: Sakrovy, Chanchav, Soksela, V Samnang, Senteang, Chanpolin. Front: Ponvuthy, Noron, Noeut, Baraing, Rozak - click to enlarge

Result: Chroy Changvar (PPCFC Academy U-17s) 1 Kirivong SSC 2 (Hun Sen Cup First Round).
The Academy U-17s, playing under the name of Chroy Changvar District, suffered a first game defeat in the Hun Sen Cup qualifying round at Tonle Bati. They struggled to maintain their bright start after they opened the scoring on 5 minutes. Suon Noeut's cross was kicked clear to captain Orn Chanpolin who rifled in a shot from the edge of the box into the far corner. A perfect start. Two minutes later Mat Sakrovy tried his luck from 35 yards out which Kirivong keeper Kun Thnou dived to keep at at the foot of the post. 17 minutes in and Chhuot Senteang will wonder how he failed to head in from right in front of goal as Mat Noron's cross eluded everyone. Sakrovy's next shot lacked power and on 23 minutes, Noron should've done better with his 10-yard drive after Senteang blocked the keeper's clearance kick. Kirivong's In Vichheka missed three presentable chances, with Keo Soksela's legs getting in the way of the third effort and Heng Kimhong lashed a shot against the Academy cross-bar. The equaliser arrived on 37 minutes as Nop Chanborareasmey got to the bye-line and his driven cross rebounded off Soksela's gloves and over the goal-line. Three minutes later and Kirivong took the lead when the ball went through Samnang's legs and Chanborareasmey had the simple task of tapping home for a soft goal. Soksela had to dive low to keep out a Sos Nasiet headed chance just before the whistle. The first half had started brightly for the Academy but their fizz was well and truly flat by the interval break.

Five minutes into the second period and Pov Ponvuthy threw himself forward to head Noron's cross goalwards but Thnou covered the ground to palm the effort wide. With Kirivong dangerous on the break, the double goalscorer was denied and so was In Savdy as Soksela stood firm. Some rugged challenges gave the Academy a series of free-kicks outside the box but they failed to deliver any telling opportunities. Vichheka's late arrival in the box was denied by Soksela and moments later his ill-timed challenge on Ponvuthy gave the referee no alternative but to issue a second yellow, followed by a red card, on 85 minutes. In fact referee Khuon Virak had been on the field less than 30 seconds after he replaced an exhausted Sam Sirann in the middle, and it took him a few moments to realise Vichheka had already been booked. In the final minute of normal time, Mom Sophal's waist-high foot into Soksela's midriff deserved the straight red card it received, as Kirivong desperately clung on to their lead. Two minutes into time added on, Senteang bustled his way through the middle but couldn't find a finish to test Thnou, and then in the 4th minute of extra time, he sent a header the wrong side of the post from Noeut's cross, when it seemed easier to score. A golden chance to equalise that went begging as the Academy went down to an opening cup defeat in their first competitive senior match.
Chroy Changvar: Soksela, Noeut, Baraing (Phearath 67), V Samnang, Chanchav, Chanpolin,. Sakrovy, Rozak (Muslim 79), Noron (Chhaya 78), Ponvuthy, Senteang. Subs not used: Chanvuthy, Sodavid, Sovann, Titchhy. Injured (N/A): Piphop. Chansopheak. Goal: Chanpolin (5). MOTM: Soksela.